Turchynov: Russia Prepares Its Troops For Large-Scale Continental War

260,000 servicemen and 3,500 tanks have been concentrated at the border with Ukraine.

Russia continues to occupy the Crimea, accumulating there a powerful military potential, and also concentrating its major military forces near the Ukrainian border, preparing to conduct a large-scale continental war.

It was stated by National Security and Defense Council head Oleksandr Turchynov at the Kiev security forum, censor.net.ua reports.

"The occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea continues, and a very powerful military potential is concentrated there. The 22th Army Corps together with other units of the Black Sea Fleet and a Russian Air Force division make up more than 30,000 servicemen. Powerful missile systems have been deployed on the peninsula, and the last redeployment of the antiaircraft S400 missile system that can hit airplanes anywhere in the country to the peninsula testifies that the Russian aggressor is preparing a powerful potential in the Crimea not only in order to protect their presence there," – the head of the National Security and Defense Council says.

Turchinov also reminds that active military operations are taking place in the East of Ukraine, and Russian terrorists and mercenaries do not observe the cessation of arms in spite of the agreements.

"In the East, the Russian aggressor is represented by two corps, the number of which exceeds 35 thousand people... But, what has fundamentally changed in the strategy of the Russian General Staff is that these two corps perform the function of covering up and gaining time for the deployment of Russia's main military forces, which today are being concentrate on the Ukrainian border. We are confronted by the 8th army at the Donetsk operational line, the 150th division of this army has already been deployed next to our border and is ready to conduct combat operations at any moment. The 49th army is in the Black Sea-Azov operative direction, and the 58th Army of the Northern Military District of the Russian Federation is in the second echelon.

The 20th Army of the Western Military District of the Russian Federation is threatening us in the North. it has the first tank army in reserve. I knowingly say the word "army" – these are troops that are ready for large-scale application, for conducting a large-scale continental war. And in total, about 260,000 Russian servicemen, 3,500 tanks, 11,000 armored vehicles, about 4,000 artillery systems, more than 1,000 multiple launch rocket systems, etc., can be used against our state today. All these troops will be supported by the 4th and 6th Armies of the Russian Air Force. This is the reality, in which Ukraine lives today," – Turchinov said.