A satellite image provided to Reuters by Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) on April 10, 2014 and taken by DigitalGlobe on March 26, 2014 shows what is reported by SHAPE to be Russian tanks and IFV elements of Motorized Rifle Regiment at a military base near Belgorod, southern Russia. PHOTO: REUTERS
"This is a force that is very capable, at high readiness, and, as we have illustrated through the imagery, is close to routes and lines of communication," British Brigadier Gary Deakin said at a briefing at NATO military headquarters at Mons in southern Belgium.
"It has the resources to be able to move quickly into Ukraine if it was ordered to do so," he said. If Russian political leaders took a decision to send forces into Ukraine, the first Russian forces could be on the move within 12 hours.
NATO has spotted Russian forces at more than 100 different sites close to the Ukraine border, he said.
The Western alliance displayed the commercial satellite images to reporters as evidence to back up its warnings of a Russian military buildup that could threaten Ukraine.
Russia denies massing forces near the border and accuses NATO of fomenting concern to rally support for the alliance.
Many of the sites in the images appeared to be fields rather than established military bases. The sites were located between about 40 kilometres (25 miles) and 150 kilometres of the Ukraine border, according to the images shown.
Russia's occupation and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region has caused the biggest crisis in East-West relations since the Cold War and led to fears in Kiev that Moscow could send forces into other parts of Ukraine.
"They have all the capabilities: air, special forces, artillery. They have everything," Brigadier Deakin said.
The satellite pictures exhibited by NATO showed long lines of tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery and aircraft parked and ready for action at a series of makeshift staging posts.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has accused Russian agents and special forces of stirring up separatist unrest and said Moscow could be trying to prepare for military action.
Russia denies the accusations and has dismissed concerns over a troop buildup.
In a buildup that began in early March, the satellite images showed that Russia has amassed not only infantry and artillery but electronic warfare units, helicopters and aircraft, said another NATO officer, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The pictures were taken between March 22 and April 2. NATO's assessment is that troop numbers have remained at about the same level since then.
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Nato can only remain a spectator if Russia invade Ukraine.
Nonsense sir, Brig Deacon, the Russian troops are on the move round the clock and can enter Ukrain if ordered in less than an hour. It is nothing but the scare mongering from the NATO and trying to start the campaign of destabilisation. What the press release does not mention that the Russian troop movements are in the Russian territory whereas the NATO reinforcement is several European countries. The Europeans do not need or want a crisis or a war, and let everbody stop war mongering.
Rex Minor
During the Cuban missile crisis Kennedy looked Khrushchev in the eye and made Khrushchev brink...........but now in the case of the Crimea, Putin tested Obama and Obama blinked.