UPDATE 1-U.S. releases satellite images of Russian forces near Ukraine

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

BRUSSELS, May 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. government released new satellite pictures on Tuesday which it said showed Russian forces were still near the Ukrainian border in recent days, contradicting Russian assertions they had been withdrawn.

President Vladimir Putin announced last Wednesday that the troops had moved, but NATO and the United States both said they had seen no sign of a Russian withdrawal from the frontier.

NATO officials have previously estimated Russia has around 40,000 soldiers close to Ukraine's border, exacerbating the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War.

The commercial satellite photos, published by the U.S. State Department and on the U.S. Mission to NATO's Twitter account, showed what appeared to be about 20 Russian helicopters at Belgorod, near the Ukrainian border, on May 9.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/13/ukraine-crisis-photographs-idUSL6N0NZ67D20140513

[sakabatou]

1. Putin lied? Quelle surprise.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Maybe the pictures will have time and date stamps this time.

[geek tragedy]

3. Cue the Putinistas to accuse President Obama

of fabricating this.

[GeorgeGist]

4. Apparently Reuters lacks the technology to post the photos.

Nothing at the link to verify the claim.

[geek tragedy]

6. Photos at this link:

http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/13/us-satellite-images-show-russian-troops-still-on-ukraine-border/

[jakeXT]

5. I'm surprised they have a March 22nd picture of Belgorod, last time it was March 7th

http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/13/us-satellite-images-show-russian-troops-still-on-ukraine-border/

http://www.aco.nato.int/nato-defends-accuracy-of-satellite-images-with-additional-proof-.aspx


Looks like no country wants to show their real toys, I really want to see some NRO technology

[independentpiney]

7. 20 helicopters and some apc's does not equal 40,000 troops

And 75 km isn't exactly on the border. Besides, with even Russia's slightly behind the US transport & logistics it doesn't much matter where in their country they are. They could mobilize 40000 troops from Arkhangelsk to Ukraine in probably 48 hours or less.

[Mika]

8. I guess that Canadians should be shaking in their boots over an imminent US invasion.

How much US armamentaria & how many US troops on the US/Canada border?

[Duckhunter935]

9. of course we do not have a recent history of invading

another sovereign country. See Russian invades Ukraine's Crimean peninsula. When is the last time we invaded Canada?

[independentpiney]

10. We don't have a recent history of invading other countries?

What duckblind has your head been stuck in for the last 30 0r so years?

[Duckhunter935]

12. read the message I responded to

I assume you saw the reference to Canada? Did not see anything about other countries did you? What post were you looking at?

[independentpiney]

13. " of course we do not have a recent history of invading another sovereign country."

is exactly what you said. You did not say "of course we do not have a recent history of invading Canada" . You added the Canada part on the end in a separate sentence. So obviously I was looking at your rather silly post since the post you were responding to was clearly tongue in cheek .

[itsrobert]

11. Last I checked US and Canada have an alliance in NATO, NORAD, etc

n/t

[balthazar2]

14. +1.

[DeSwiss]

15. Satellite images of US overseas bases......

[center]

[/center]

- Perspective's a bitch.

[davidpdx]

16. I live in one of those countries that has a US military presence

I suppose it would have been better to simply allow North Korea's government to invade. When you have a crazy motherfucking asshole of a dictator on the other side of the boarder, yes perspective is a bitch.

[okaawhatever]

17. That map shows China as a country "with other forms of military cooperation". is that true? I

can't believe that. China doesn't cooperate much with the West militarily. Also, I don't think these are all bases are they? And you're right the US presence in S Korea and treaty with them has kept them safe for a number of years.

[davidpdx]

18. I'm not an expert on military bases

but I had applied for a job teaching in the UAE (mainly because it pays really good). I talked with a few people in the city I wanted to go and they said there is a US Navy base there, but you wouldn't know if you walked by it.

Thankfully things have been relatively calm here lately. I think that is going to change as the next fit by North Korea is coming soon. They do air raid drills here from time to time, but most people ignore them.