RUSSIA could invade Ukraine any day now having amassed its military forces around the border.

       In early 2022, diplomats have been frantically trying to ease the tensions but, so far, no agreement has been reached.

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       Russia and Belarus are currently conducting military drills but Western experts believe this is just a cover to build up troops on the Ukraine border Credit: AP Where are Russian troops positioned around Ukraine?

       Russia’s military is positioned on Ukraine’s northern, eastern and southern borders.

       Officials have warned an invasion could happen at any time.

       Russia has also sent troops into Belarus, a close ally, saying the deployment was part of joint military drills.

       Those exercises started on February 10, 2022, and are expected to last ten days.

       Western experts though believe this is just a pretext to build up forces at the border before launching an attack from the North.

       Video evidence revealed Russia’s 1st Guards Tank Army arriving at Maslovka station, also close to Ukraine, with Msta-S self-propelled artillery, T-80U tanks, seen on trains.

       The build-up of attack helicopters included Ka-52 Alligators, Mi-8 gunships and Mi-24s in Nizhny Novgorod, Tver, Ulyanovsk and Yaroslavl.

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       How many Russian troops are positioned around Ukraine?

       Current estimates put the total number of Russian troops amassed along the Ukraine border at 130,000.

       Along with the ground troops, Russian fighter jets have started air patrols and its S-400 air defence system has been deployed close to the Belarus-Ukraine border.

       Russia is also expected to launch naval exercises in the coming days in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

       As with the troop exercises, Western experts believe this is just a cover to position even more military might around Ukraine.

       Will Russia invade Ukraine?

       US intelligence suggested Russia will invade Ukraine on Wednesday although this is far from clear-cut and diplomatic moves are still going on in an attempt to avoid a conflict.

       American spies claim to have seen battle plans of the routes Russian units will take and the roles they will play.

       The likelihood of a military conflict increased after a 62-minute telephone conversation between the US and Russian presidents - Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin - ended in deadlock.

       UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who cut short a half-term family holiday to deal with the crisis, said an invasion is “highly likely” and poured scorn on those who naively think Mr Putin will have a sudden change of heart.

       Mr Wallace added: “It may be Putin just switches off his tanks and we all go home, but there is a whiff of Munich in the air from some in the West.”

       Boris Johnson is to hold a series of calls with world leaders and travel to Europe.

       A Downing Street spokesman said on February 13, 2022: “The crisis on Ukraine’s border has reached a critical juncture.

       “There is still a window of opportunity for de-escalation and diplomacy and the Prime Minister will continue to work tirelessly alongside our allies to get Russia to step back from the brink.”