DefenceTalkHaving effectively annexed Crimea, Russia now threatens the territorial integrity of the rest of Ukraine. How are Ukraine’s ground forces configured to deal with the challenge? This map is the closest approximation of Ukrainian ground force (along with airborne and air-mobile units) deployments based on research of Ukrainian armed forces until February 2014. Readers will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/current-status-of-ukraines-ground-forces-59171/

DefenceTalkThe Army and NATO are watching “very carefully” the troop deployments and the exercises they’re doing in Russia, said Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno. “I think it’s important for us that we operate within the NATO framework to address these issues and we are doing that,” he told lawmakers in reply to a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/csa-army-watching-eastern-europe-closely-59181/

DefenceTalkNorway condemns Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the use of armed force in Ukraine. This is a clear violation of international law and an unacceptable course of action that must have consequences. Norway has therefore informed Russian authorities of its decision to suspend all planned bilateral military activities between Norway […]https://www.defencetalk.com/norway-suspends-planned-military-activities-with-russia-59150/

DefenceTalkAll military units stationed in Crimea are now under the control of the Russian military, and remaining Ukrainian servicemen are departing the peninsula, the region’s first deputy prime minister, Rustam Temirgaliyev, said on Monday. As Crimea’s reunification process began last week, a total of 147 military units in the predominantly Russian-ethnic region have replaced Ukrainian […]https://www.defencetalk.com/no-ukrainian-military-units-left-in-crimea-59124/

DefenceTalkA total of 72 military units in Crimea have hoisted Russian flags instead of Ukrainian and applied to join the Russian armed forces, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday. “Yesterday, 72 military units almost in full strength decided to join the Russian armed forces. We are now dealing with service and citizenship issues of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/72-crimean-military-units-request-joining-russia-59122/

DefenceTalkChina, which consistently says it opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs, is looking to “maintain principles” on Ukraine, it said Monday after Russia insisted the two were in broad agreement. Moscow has appeared keen to stress that it has a major international ally on its military intervention in Ukraine, and Beijing frequently backs its […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-backs-principles-on-ukraine-as-russia-claims-agreement-58917/

DefenceTalkThe United States on Monday suspended all military engagements with Russia because of the crisis in Ukraine, including military exercises and port visits, as part of Washington’s response to Moscow’s seizure of Crimea. The announcement from the Pentagon came hours after President Barack Obama warned the U.S. government will look at a series of economic […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-halts-military-engagements-with-russia-over-ukraine-crisis-58904/

DefenceTalkRussia denies reports that it issued an ultimatum to Ukrainian armed forces in Crimea, according to the Interfax news agency which cites an official from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. The official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry described information about the ultimatum as ‘total nonsense’. The Russian Black Sea fleet based in Crimea denied on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/reports-of-ukraine-ultimatum-total-nonsense-russian-defense-ministry-58911/

DefenceTalkUkraine warned Sunday it was on the brink of disaster and called up military reservists after Russia’s threat to invade its Western-leaning neighbor risked sparking the worst crisis since the Cold War. US President Barack Obama and his Western allies took turns admonishing Russia as Ukraine looked on the brink of losing control of Crimea […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraine-mobilizes-army-as-west-warns-russia-58902/

DefenceTalkSecretary of State John Kerry vowed Friday that the United States would defend Japan against attack including over islands claimed by China as tensions boil between the Asian powers. Kerry, who said he would visit China next week, met in Washington with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and reaffirmed the 1960 treaty that commits the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-vows-to-defend-japan-against-china-50681/