Lined up on a runway just 100 miles from Ukraine, 15 supersonic Russian fighter- bombers await their orders from the Kremlin.
This and other satellite images have revealed the aerial power Vladimir Putin has amassed in the tense border region.
Seen for the first time, the pictures show the aircraft which experts fear could spearhead a Russian invasion of its Nato-supporting neighbour.
The 15 Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft are on the runway at Morozovsk airbase.
With a top speed of 1,367mph, they are armed with an array of laser-guided missiles and a 30mm autocannon capable of firing 1,800 rounds a minute.
The pictures reveal increased levels of Russian military activity at other bases inside Crimea and near the Ukrainian border including troop deployments, attack helicopters, smoke generators, reconnaissance drones, jamming equipment and a military hospital.
At least 80,000 Russian troops are thought to be amassed around eastern Ukraine and Crimea with a further 30,000 expected to arrive by the end of the month according to Ukrainian government reports seen by the Daily Mail.
The satellite images emerged yesterday as Russia made further preparations for a possible invasion – with the Kremlin announcing it was closing the airspace over parts of Crimea and the Black Sea and the continuation of combat readiness exercises in the sea involving more than 20 military vessels and aircraft.
Pictures taken by space and technology firm Maxar of the same areas at the end of March did not show the aircraft, proving the Su-34s must have been moved into position since then.
The Maxar satellites spotted increased levels of Russian activity at 15 locations along the Ukrainian border, more than previously thought.
Experts said last night the deployment of strike aircraft in such immediate range of Ukraine sent a very strong message to its neighbour.
Former US Air Force general Philip Breedlove told the Wall Street Journal: 'They have appropriately deployed the various elements of airpower that would be needed to establish air superiority over the battlefield and directly support the ground troops.'
No comments:
Post a Comment