New high resolution satellite imagery provided by US-based space firm Maxar Technologies illustrates heightened Russian military deployments in Belarus, Crimea and western Russia. While Russian military activities in those areas have been reported for several weeks, recent imagery suggests that the Russian units now have increased troops to support more aggressive operations. Military training activities that include live-fire artillery are also seen in some of the training areas.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday accused the US of trying to draw his country into a war with Ukraine. New satellite pictures reflect an increased level of activity and readiness on the part of Russia.

Images from Pogonovo training ground, east of the Ukraine border, showed tanks deployed on the firing range.

Another picture from the same area taken on January 26 shows towed artillery conducting live-fire training.

Evidence of artillery live-fire is also seen in the satellite images from Persianovsky training area near Rostov-on-Don, in western Russia. The January 28 picture shows likely impact craters possibly caused by the firings.

Another set of Maxar imagery from January 30 shows likely short range ballistic Iskander missile systems deployed near Osipovichi training area in Belarus.

Picture taken on February 1 of Novoozernoye, Yevpatoria in Crimea shows the deployment of tents, suggesting the presence of additional Russian troops, vehicles and other military equipment.

Comparison of images of this location from earlier ones reveals the extent of deployment that has taken over the past several weeks.

Images from a training ground at Obuz-Lesnovsky, where a mechanized brigade has been taking part in exercises, confirm the presence of newly deployed

New images taken on February 1 of the Angarsky training area in Crimea confirm the arrival of fresh troops with visual confirmation of new tents and shelters.

Satellite images from January 19 showed armored personnel carriers and views of active looking storage facilities at Klimovo, at a distance of roughly 13 km from the Ukraine border.

Earlier satellite images also covered the field camp at the Brestsky training ground. The training facility in southwest Belarus, near the borders of Poland and Ukraine has been witnessing increased Russian deployment for the past several weeks. Heightened Russian military activities are also reflected in satellite pictures of Osipovichi, Belarus. In Crimea, apart from facilities at Novoozernoye, Bakhchysarai, Angarsky, Yevpatoria and Opuk have also witnessed increased military activities and deployment. Yelnya, Pogonovo, Kursk, Klintsy, Western, Klimovo and Persianovsky in Western Russia have been witnessing similar preparedness.