40 mile long Russian convoy stalls, but nearing Kyiv

Satellite images, from US tech company Maxar, show a Russian convoy of military vehicles pointing towards Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv. The convoy, which has purportedly seen many logistical struggles, appears to be close to 40 miles long, when single file.

A senior U.S. Defense Department official estimates Russia has already committed about 80% of their staged combat force towards their goals in Ukraine. Additionally, the official claims Russian forces are still 18 miles north of Kyiv, seeing little advance since Monday.

The convoy, made up of tanks, tactical vehicles, and artillery, originated from Belarus, a former Soviet State. In the weeks leading up to the invasion of Ukraine, Russia amassed “hundreds of… military vehicles, aircraft and helicopters” in Belarus. Both Russia and Belarus claimed that this movement was part of a “joint military exercise.”

Rather than return to Russia after the exercise, the equipment stayed in place and is now on its way to Kyiv.

Although Ukrainian military and resistance fighters have managed to slow Russia’s advances up to this point, the size and scope of the Russian convoy suggests that tougher fighting may lay ahead.

The origin of the Russian convoy also raises questions about Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s military workup prior to invading Ukraine. US intelligence currently wonders if Belarus was merely exploited by its ally, unaware that they were being used as a staging point for the invasion, or a willing asset who would then share responsibility for the outcome of Russia’s actions.

This may lend credibility to the claim made by several Russian sources that Russian troops were “tricked” into invading Ukraine. Days after the invasion kicked off, a platoon of Russian Soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian troops. They all stated that they had no idea that they would be asked to kill Ukrainians and thought they were there do “do something else.”

Belarus maintains that its only involvement with Russia’s military was the “joint military exercise” they conduced weeks ago. This still leaves questions however, about the military camps that Russia established along the Ukrainian border, “hundreds of miles” away from the location of the “joint military exercise.”