The Biden administration’s growing alarm about a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is based in part on US intelligence that Moscow has drawn up plans for a military offensive involving an estimated 175,000 troops as soon as early next year.
An unclassified US intelligence document details some of the intelligence findings, including the positioning of what officials say could eventually be 100 battalion tactical groups, as well as heavy armor, artillery and other equipment.
The intelligence was first reported on Friday by The Washington Post. US officials stress that the intentions of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia remain unclear, and the intelligence does not show that he has decided to carry out the apparent war plan.
But the intelligence depicts a Russian military machine springing into action and positioning itself for an attack against which experts say Ukraine’s military would stand little chance. About half of the Russian forces that would be used in an invasion are already near Ukraine’s border, and Moscow is moving swiftly to build up a large force of contract military reservists, according to a Biden administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence.
A Russian invasion of Ukraine would set off a major national security crisis for Europe and the Biden administration, which has declared an “iron-clad commitment” to Ukraine’s borders and independence.
The document features satellite photos indicating a build-up of Russian troops and equipment near Ukraine’s eastern border, and says that Russian plans involve moving forces to and from Ukraine’s border “to obfuscate intentions and create uncertainty”.
The concern about Putin’s intentions has been fuelled by what US officials call an increase in Russian media disinformation describing Nato and Ukraine as threats to Russia, potentially to create a pretext for a Russian escalation.
The administration official said that Russian officials had also proposed information operations within Ukraine portraying that country’s leaders as western puppets acting against their country’s interests.
Secretary of state Antony J. Blinken said on Thursday that President Biden was likely to speak directly with Putin soon, and the Kremlin said on Friday that the leaders would conduct a video call next week.
“We’ve been aware of Russia’s actions for a long time and my expectation is we’re going to have a long discussion,” Biden told reporters Friday night when asked about the possibility of Russia invading Ukraine.
A National Security Council spokesperson said on Friday night that the US did not seek conflict with Russia and believed diplomacy was the best way to avert a crisis and prevent US-Russian relations from spiralling further downward.
US officials have hinted vaguely in recent days that they have specific reasons for their heightened concern about an invasion of Russia’s neighbour.
Speaking to reporters in Stockholm on Thursday, Blinken referred to “evidence that Russia has made plans for significant aggressive moves against Ukraine.”