Russia is quickly amassing its offensive forces in northern Crimea. On November 24, five Russian IL-76 military transport aircrafts transferred two battalion tactical groups of paratroopers, belonging to the Russian Airborne Armed Forces, from the city of Ivanovo (central Russia) to the Dzhankoy airfield in Crimea”, the press service statement reads, Ukraine Today reported.

The 97th Russian Airborne Assault Regiment stationed in the Russian city of Novorossiysk has also been deployed 3km south-west of Dzhankoy, some 30 minutes’ drive away from Ukraine’s Chongar crossing.

Russia pulls tanks, Grads to Crimea-Kherson demarcation line in wake of blackout – MIA official“Russian troops in occupied Crimea have significantly increased their offensive capabilities with well-trained units (who are) ready to launch attacks”, the NSDC reports.

Yesterday, on November 24, a dozen Russian tanks reportedly approached the line of contact between the Crimea peninsula and the Ukrainian mainland following blasts over the weekend that knocked out electricity transmission lines, leading to a blackout across parts of the occupied Black Sea region.