This information was disclosed by Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in an interview with the “Interfax-Ukraine” agency.
“If we talk about what has changed during this time, it’s the number of troops deployed on our territory. Currently, the ground component, the land part of the deployment located on Ukrainian soil, amounts to approximately 470,000 military personnel. And this is just the ground component; I’m not including aviation, nor are we counting the naval fleet, which is also involved in operations and strikes”, said Skibitskyi.
Moreover, a new component has emerged, which was not present at the beginning of the aggression — the deployment of units of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia) in the temporarily occupied territories. These forces, totaling almost 33,000 personnel, are responsible for ensuring the activities of the occupation authorities, protecting strategic objects, and, if necessary, conducting defense operations in the occupied territories.
Skibitskyi also noted another change that occurred over the past two years — the additional deployment of forces to cover the Russian state border. These forces are stationed in three Russian regions directly adjacent to Ukraine: Belgorod, Kursk, and Bryansk. The major general stressed that this deployment is linked to Russian fears that Ukraine will become more active and conduct corresponding actions on Russian territory.
Furthermore, Skibitskyi highlighted the significant change of isolating the Black Sea Fleet over the past two years. All major combat ships of the enemy are now located in Novorossiysk.
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