Russia has assembled 70 percent of the military forces needed to launch a massive invasion of Ukraine that could result in tens of thousands of civilian deaths and millions of refugees, according to U.S. military and intelligence officials.
Senior Biden officials warned in briefings to lawmakers and European partners in recent days that if Moscow elects to launch a full invasion of Ukraine, 50,000 civilians could be killed and up to 5 million refugees could result, multiple news outlets reported on Saturday, including The Washington Post.
According to official U.S. assessments, Russian President Vladimir Putin has 83 battalion tactical groups of roughly 750 troops each on the border of Ukraine, amounting to 70 percent of the forces he would need to maximize a full invasion, the Post reported.
Officials have estimated there are more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed on the Ukrainian border. The buildup is considered not to be a bluff and an attack is believed possible any day, with optimal conditions for an invasion projected to occur between mid-February and late March, the Post reported.
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