A @Reuters witness saw tanks and other military hardware on the outskirts of Donetsk, the capital of one of two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized them as independent https://t.co/CfsYwia0bM pic.twitter.com/60YcnUyGvs
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 22, 2022
Cette nuit, en direction de Donetsk, des dizaines de chars russes, pièces d'artillerie tractées par des camions et véhicules militaires. Exclu #Le Figaro. #DNR pic.twitter.com/F5rV0ByvD1
— Alain Barluet (@abarluet) February 21, 2022
Business Insider: Videos appear to show Russian armed forces moving deep into separatist region of Ukraine
* Video footage suggests the Russian military is already deep in two pro-Moscow regions of Ukraine.
* Putin declared the regions as independent on Monday and ordered a "peacekeeping" mission.
* Western powers believe the move is likely a precursor to a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine.
Video footage shot Monday night appears to show Russian armed forces and tanks active deep in the pro-Moscow Donbas region of Ukraine.
Late Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military to march into the Donbas on what the Kremlin described as a "peacekeeping" mission.
Hours earlier, Putin had recognized the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) following a rubber-stamp meeting of his security council,
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WNU Editor: If the above videos are authentic, it tells me that Russian armor and artillery units are on (or near) the current front-lines between separatist and Ukrainian forces. To say that this changes the dynamics of this 8 year war is an understatement.
From now on any exchange of fire on this front-line will involve the Russian military. Any fighting will be against Russian regular forces. Any assault will involve Russian soldiers. This also means that any future military engagement can (and probably will) quickly escalate along much of the Russian - Ukraine border.
Bottom line.
I can only see four military outcomes from this Russian military deployment in the Donbass.
1) Both sides will restrain from firing at each other in order to not escalate this conflict.
2) Separatist forces will start launching attacks knowing that they are backed by Russian military firepower, resulting in Ukrainian forces firing back and thereby escalating the war.
3) Ukrainian forces launching assaults to test Russian military resolve and commitment. This will definitely escalate the war.
4) Russian forces launching an attack by themselves, thereby escalating the war.