Thread by @MarQs__

#Russia thins out its embassy in #Ukraine:
In early January, the gradual departure process has started in the Russian Embassy in #Kyiv and consulate in Lviv. Diplomats at two other Russian consulates have been told to prepare to leave Ukraine - NYT
nytimes.com/2022/01/17/us/…

Military equipment spotted near #Brest, #Belarus this morning:

Train with Russian military equipment spotted in Orsha, #Belarus this early morning.
via @MotolkoHelp

Joint Russian - Belarusian drills will take place from February 10 to 20

Video of Russian soldiers and equipment arriving in #Belarus

More military equipment spotted in #Minsk today

The Russian Federation and #Belarus will consider a situation where the security of the union state will require the involvement of the entire military potential of the two countries - Russian Defense Ministry

Two S-400 battalions, a Pantsir-S battalion and 12 Su-35 fighters will be transferred from Russia to Belarus for exercises
t.me/rian_ru/140324

#Belarus confirms that Russian units from #Russia's Eastern Military District are involved in the upcoming inspection of the reaction forces of the Union State
t.me/rian_ru/140323

https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1483371751341965321?s=20

https://twitter.com/CorporalFrisk/status/1483373377427582977?s=20

"The authorities of the #DPR are ready for a provocation from #Kyiv using chemical weapons"
t.me/donbassr/9931

"We have information, and Defense Minister Shoigu said that chemical weapons can be used for provocation. And not necessarily on the territory of the #Donetsk and #Luhansk People's Republics, they can be used on the territory of #Ukraine itself" - Pushilin

Russian military equipment continues to arrive in #Belarus. Photo shows another train, which was seen in Orsha today at noon

RIA reports the situation in Donbas "is heating up. Regular shelling is reported in the #DPR and #LPR, the Armed Forces of #Ukraine are transferring heavy equipment"
ria.ru/20220118/donba…

RIA says the successful CSTO mission in #Kazakhstan "seems to have impressed the Ukrainian authorities" & led Zelensky to declare his readiness to negotiate a de-escalation. "But the military is in no hurry to support the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, on same day shelling resumed"

https://twitter.com/tom_nuttall/status/1483347715287400453?s=20

Blinken, Zelensky to meet in #Kyiv on Jan 19 (tomorrow)

German Foreign Minister Baerbock says there are "fundamental differences in opinions" after meeting with Lavrov

Russian foreign minister says #Moscow needs answers from #US on sweeping security demands before continuing #Ukraine talks

German Foreign Minister Baerbock says it's hard not to understand 100.000 Russian soldiers at the Ukrainian border without a specific reason as a threat

German Foreign Minister Baerbock says it's important to restart Normandy Four talks to implement #Minsk agreements

German Foreign Minister Baerbock says Germany is ready for a serious dialogue with #Russia on security topics and is interested in stable relations with #Moscow

Russian troops spotted in #Gomel, #Belarus

Sec. of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Kyiv & Berlin from January 18-20. He will also meet with the employees & families of the US Embassy to communicate the Department’s efforts to plan for contingencies, should Russia choose to escalate further.
state.gov/secretary-blin…

https://twitter.com/Militarylandnet/status/1483422001758887936?s=20

Loud shelling audible north-west of #Donetsk

#Avdiivka: "Oh, the sounds of war are back"

https://twitter.com/owl_ok/status/1483426300236734466?s=20

https://twitter.com/Archer83Able/status/1483430358637068291?s=20

Incoming fire in the general direction of #Donetsk airport but widely spread impacts

https://twitter.com/muryk412/status/1483430599239114753?s=20

#NATO chief Stoltenberg says has invited #Russia, NATO allies to new talks on #Ukraine - AFP

#Donetsk, Kievsky District now

Another train with most likely Russian military equipment filmed in #Minsk today

Pro Russian sources say Spartak is under Ukrainian mortar fire

Khabarovsk region in #Russia's far east

According to Kommersant Lavrov and Blinken will meet on January 21st in Geneva
kommersant.ru/doc/5172141?fr…

Reportedly Russian troops from Primorsky Krai in Kalodzishchy, #Belarus today

https://twitter.com/MotolkoHelp/status/1483465403649175560?s=20

#NATO's SecGen Stoltenberg says in the next few days the alliance will deliver a written responses to #Moscow's proposals for changes to the way the alliance operates to #Russia
via @terischultz

Stoltenberg says #NATO has information confirming #US claims of a "significant Russian presence of intelligence officers or operatives inside #Ukraine"

He says it's "absolutely possible" they're planning "incidents, accidents, false flag operations."
via @terischultz

https://twitter.com/hdevreij/status/1483475557614559234?s=20

https://twitter.com/Michael1Sheldon/status/1483478552385314820?s=20

So we likely have a camp with Russian BM-27 Uragan here:

. @statedept official on Russian troop movement into #Belarus: "This is extremely dangerous. We are now at a stage where #Russia could at any point launch an attack on #Ukraine"

https://twitter.com/margbrennan/status/1483486513593831428?s=20

Sr State Dept official: The #US remains concerned across several dimensions about #Russia creating a pretext for a possible invasion, including via #Belarus. Movement of forces there is neither an exercise nor normal troop movement - via @Olivia_Gazis

Russian military equipment moving along the M5 highway from #Minsk towards Asipovichy, Mogilev region today:

https://twitter.com/akihheikkinen/status/1483493343598452738?s=20

Some #US officials who have seen the intel say there is evidence #Russia is planning to try to capture #Kyiv and overthrow the government. The deployment of forces from Russia's EMD into #Belarus struck many US officials and Russian military analysts as particularly ominous - CNN

#Russia has deployed more aircraft closer to the border, which has raised fears of a significant air component to an eventual invasion. Two to three dozen Sukhov-34 fighter jets have joined helicopters positioned near #Ukraine, the official said - CNN

"Minsk - Gomel"

Officials at the #UK Foreign Office have been told to be ready to move into “crisis mode” at very short notice
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

https://twitter.com/jseldin/status/1483504435561127936?s=20

All six Russian landing craft have now left the Baltic Sea - Swedish Armed Forces

A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in #Crimea, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022
apnews.com/article/moscow…

#Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday it was speeding up efforts to form reserve battalions that would allow for the rapid deployment of 130,000 recruits to expand the country’s 246,000-strong military - AP

#US officials raised question of how much control #Lukashenko still has, calling this is a moment of decision-making for him and his supporters about the future of #Belarus sovereignty
via @TommyLundn

I wonder if and how #Poland will react with Russian troops now at their border with #Belarus?

"Yesterday, a train with airfield maintenance equipment was seen near Yekaterinburg. The train included airfield tankers TZ-22, unified gas-charging stations UGZS.M, unified motor heaters UMP-350."

https://twitter.com/galandecZP/status/1483132061770817536?s=20

I need some sleep. Good night and stay safe everyone!