Judging by the satellite images of the company Planet, Russia has begun to equip a military camp near the Russian city of Voronezh.
Russian forces transferred active equipment and personnel to the same camp shortly before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly a year ago.
On the image below, you can drag the arrow over to see how Russian forces have equipped the camp in just two weeks.
The picture on the left was taken on 25 January, while the picture on the left was taken on 7 February.
©Planet Labs PBC
The Russians are also setting up military camps east of the Russian city of Kursk.
CLOSE TO THE BORDER: The Russian city of Kursk is located northwest of Kharkiv. Photo: Jørgen Herland / TV 2
Kursk is only 11 miles from the Ukrainian border, and the nearest Ukrainian city is Kharkiv.
Tom Røseth, head teacher in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy, says that the rearmament does not necessarily have any particular significance for the war going forward.
– Armament and reinforcements at nearby Russian bases are expected, says Røseth to TV 2.
EXPECTED: Tom Røseth is not surprised by the new satellite images. Photo: Martin Leigland / TV 2
He nevertheless says that it is likely that Russian forces lack joint training and coordination, and believes that this may be the background for the rearmament.
Announced major Russian offensive
Just a week ago, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) announced that Russian forces were preparing a major offensive in eastern Ukraine.
Already two days later, ISW reported that the major offensive was under way, and that Russian forces had gone on the attack in several places along the front in the east.
– The reinforcements we see now are part of the supposedly ongoing offensive, and it is now being tested for weaknesses along the front line, says Røseth.
It is not unlikely that Russian forces will try to break through at the camps, he concludes.
BOMB ROOM: On 10 February, a day after the major offensive had begun, several people hid in underground stations. Photo: Vladyslav Musiienko / Reuters
TV 2 met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg when he visited Washington DC before the weekend.
He was clearly worried about the time ahead in Ukraine.
– It is a fateful time for Ukraine. It is a fateful time for Europe. It is a critical phase in the war, he told TV 2’s reporter.
CONCERNED: A new and bloodier phase of the war in Ukraine is at the door, warns Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: Øystein Bogen / TV 2
This week, Stoltenberg is back at NATO’s headquarters in Brussels, where the alliance’s defense ministers will begin a two-day meeting on Tuesday.
– We see no signs that President Putin is preparing for peace. What we see is the opposite, he is preparing for more war with new offensives and new attacks, he tells the press ahead of the meeting.
Weapons package worth billions
Recently, several Western countries have promised large arms packages worth billions to Ukraine.
Among them, Germany has promised over 100 Leopard 1 tanks from several European countries.
LEOPARD 1: Germany has promised over 100 tanks of this type. Photo: Wotjek Radwanski / AFP
It had been hoped that these would come forward before the announced major offensive was under way, but they did not.
On Monday, Stoltenberg says that it is urgent to get the weapons in place.
– Tempo can save lives. The faster we get supplies to the Ukrainian front, the more lives we can save, he emphasizes.
