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Russia's defence ministry said on Wednesday its forces were
pulling back after exercises near Ukraine, but the United States
and NATO accused Moscow of increasing its military presence near
the border, not withdrawing its troops.
"The army is positioned so it can begin an invasion at any
moment, it just needs an attack order", Lithuanian Chief of
Defence Valdemaras Rupsys told Reuters in a telephone interview
from Vilnius.
"There are no signs they are withdrawing. But there are signs
and data showing that troops at the border are being
strengthened with additional capabilities, and units which were
away from the border are being moved towards the border".
Russian forces are positioned to attack from the north, from the
east and from Crimea to the south, and a simultaneus attack from
all three directions is possible, Rusys said. Moscow annexed
Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
"There are enough troops for all scenarious, from all-out
invasion to taking over some regions", he added.
An attack on Ukraine would likely lead to more NATO or U.S.
troops in the Baltic republic, said Rupsys.
The head of Estonia's Foreign Intelligence Service said on
Wednesday Russia was likely to launch a "limited" military
attack against Ukraine. Success for Moscow there would encourage
it to increase pressure on the Baltic states, he said.
Unlike the three Baltic republics - Lithuania, Estonia and
Lativa - Ukraine is not a NATO member. Russia wants NATO to
agree never to admit Ukraine, something the alliance rules out.
The Baltic republics agreed to provide Ukraine with U.S.-made
anti-armour and anti-aircraft missiles and NATO members have
reinforced them militarily after the Ukraine crisis escalated.
(Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Riga; Editing by Gareth Jones)
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