WASHINGTON – The number of Russian troops deployed in occupied Crimea near Ukraine’s border has steadily increased over the past two weeks, exceeding the size of the force that annexed the peninsula in 2014, the Pentagon said on Monday.
Press secretary John Kirby declined to provide specific figures on Russia’s growing troop capacity. A spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said last week that there were about 80,000 troops now stationed along the border with Russia, 40,000 of which were in Crimea. On Monday, the European Union said there were now more than 100,000 in border regions.
‘What I can tell you is that in general we are still seeing this build-up increase. And it’s going on for us again, ”Kirby told reporters.
“In general, over the past few weeks we have seen an increase in the forces along the border with Ukraine in occupied Crimea,” he said.
Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula of Ukraine in 2014 by using troops in unmarked uniforms and also began supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has since erupted, costing about 14,000 lives despite a series of ceasefires.
Experts say it is unclear whether Russia is simply flexing its muscles or trying to lure Kiev into a major clash.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier this month that the build-up of troops was part of readiness exercises in response to what he called threatening activities by the United States and its NATO allies.
The Russian troops deployment “is definitely bigger” than the build-up that accompanied the annexation of the peninsula in 2014, Kirby said.
“We call on Russia to make its intention clearer. We do not believe that this construction is conducive to security and stability along the border with Ukraine and certainly not in occupied Crimea,” Kirby said.
‘We have certainly heard the Russians proclaim that it is all about training. It is not entirely clear to us that this is exactly the goal, ”he added.
A U.S. defense official, who is not authorized to speak on the record, told NBC News that tens of thousands of Russian troops had gathered on the border with Ukraine in Crimea and other regions, building tanks, artillery and aircraft.
The head of the European Union’s foreign policy, Josep Borrell, on Monday expressed serious concern about the presence of Russian troops.
‘This is the highest military deployment of the Russian army on the Ukrainian borders ever. “Obviously, it’s worrying when you deploy a lot of troops,” Borrell said. “Well, a spark can jump here or there.”
Borrell initially told reporters more than 150,000 Russian troops were advancing along Ukraine’s borders. But later, EU staff changed the number in the transcript of the briefing, saying the actual figure was more than 100,000.
Mosheh Winste contributed.