This was announced by two US officials on Saturday, February 5, on condition of anonymity due to the confidentiality of information was informed by Reuters.

It is noted that over the past two weeks, the number of battalion tactical groups of the Russian Federation in the border area has increased from 60 to 83, and 14 more are on the road.

As for the timing of the invasion, according to the interlocutors, the peak of freezing of the earth is expected to take place on February 15, which will allow Russian military units to mechanize transit off-road. Such conditions will continue until the end of March.

Sources also said that in Washington's view, Russia could choose options other than a full-scale invasion, including a limited invasion. At the same time, the United States does not believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a final decision.

U.S. officials have added that Putin is allegedly creating a force that can implement all scenarios.

Read also: Russia continues to militarize the occupied Crimea - NYT

"According to US officials, if Russia invades the capital Kyiv, it could fall within days", - was informed in the statement.

The publication also suggested that a full-scale invasion would result in heavy casualties. Ukraine, in particular, may lose from five to 25 thousand troops, and Russia - from three to ten thousand.

"The civilian casualties could range from 25,000 to 50,000, according to US estimates", - wasinformed by the officia.

Read also: Maxar has published new satellite images of Russian troops in Belarus and the occupied Crimea

It is noted that a full-scale invasion "will also provoke the flight of millions of refugees and internally displaced persons to Europe".

What is known

• Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny notes that Ukraine does not currently plan military operations to return the temporarily occupied Crimea and the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
• Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov said that the Russian Federation continues to militarize the temporarily occupied Crimea, but the formation of strike groups ready for the offensive is not observed there.
• The Sun reported a possible "almost imminent war" and published the latest map of Russia's attack, in which Russia could "strike a limited blow at Ukraine over the next ten days".

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