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This satellite image shows troops gathered at a training ground in Pogonovo, Russia. AP Photo
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Russian and Belarus troops held joint combat training at firing ranges in Belarus as tensions remain high under the looming threat of war with Ukraine. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5BFDDJ3GDEFXMDTKH6CJRSFDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=19eefa6c1e76507ed988cab5a84c974f5efe4efc7df6a9895cd5357fc27c1f11&width=400&height=225)
A soldier drives an armoured vehicle at Brestsky firing range, Belarus. AP Photo
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A Ukrainian serviceman carries out checks not far from the pro-Russian militant-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K7N4E2OKDAKJQJVIAF2CMKKIBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0814edeaa0d65a8f7defb3c6e90f90b5aacb2f95c07e8bde7a53de9022762b73&width=400&height=225)
A Russian military vehicle drives off a railway platform after arriving in Belarus. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OJ7ZU5Y3DAHLPCO45NLHKTI2WA.jpg?smart=true&auth=279ae366014cd0011f2e390bc1a8e30a5cd87c71971a0042f903e442a9a87388&width=400&height=225)
A soldier takes aim during a Russian and Belarusian military drill at Brestsky firing range. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TMJPVDZMC4F3Q25MHAPAQ2X7DI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba2fc5d997dddb999c6b060be7cf0d50a471a844ad88d743ab4ae6f39e3a1ed1&width=400&height=225)
A Ukrainian serviceman repairs a shelter near Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
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Aircraft are lined up on 'USS Harry S Truman' in the Adriatic Sea. The Truman strike group is operating under Nato command and control along with several other Nato allies for co-ordinated maritime manoeuvres, anti-submarine warfare training and long-range training. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VHHPSZK36NCIDA5YKC34WB3J44.jpg?smart=true&auth=7bf0e84570ab0a4aa4e6f7023f168ac6eff4f8d4118a381cf9acd495ca24f230&width=400&height=225)
Russian soldiers attend the Yurginsky training ground in the Kemerovo region, Russia. AP Photo
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A Ukrainian serviceman lays flowers where one of his friends was killed in 2017 near Avdiivka. Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
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A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in a dugout on the frontline with the Russia-backed separatists near Avdiivka. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NUOEJCSSK4EJEUOH5OK4KUJGRQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=966219c78e91dc95dcf4e88e25204e2d82d85cfcae30947f19c964b810a68796&width=400&height=225)
This satellite image shows troops gathered at a training ground in Pogonovo, Russia. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZM7ECKZRZ5SFKOYDZ7I4LKOIJE.jpg?smart=true&auth=c4f626450e676ee9066d886fd5fcd144e8ba3ec9fbc62f9a3677a24196460fae&width=400&height=225)
Russian and Belarus troops held joint combat training at firing ranges in Belarus as tensions remain high under the looming threat of war with Ukraine. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B5BFDDJ3GDEFXMDTKH6CJRSFDE.jpg?smart=true&auth=19eefa6c1e76507ed988cab5a84c974f5efe4efc7df6a9895cd5357fc27c1f11&width=400&height=225)
A soldier drives an armoured vehicle at Brestsky firing range, Belarus. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4FIGFKS55IJH7FADEPYIUR5IME.jpg?smart=true&auth=9060eea73f50c210b9d62186ed7decfe2f00644714a6262a3ee5bbeac03b4caf&width=400&height=225)
A Ukrainian serviceman carries out checks not far from the pro-Russian militant-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K7N4E2OKDAKJQJVIAF2CMKKIBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=0814edeaa0d65a8f7defb3c6e90f90b5aacb2f95c07e8bde7a53de9022762b73&width=400&height=225)
A Russian military vehicle drives off a railway platform after arriving in Belarus. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OJ7ZU5Y3DAHLPCO45NLHKTI2WA.jpg?smart=true&auth=279ae366014cd0011f2e390bc1a8e30a5cd87c71971a0042f903e442a9a87388&width=400&height=225)
A soldier takes aim during a Russian and Belarusian military drill at Brestsky firing range. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TMJPVDZMC4F3Q25MHAPAQ2X7DI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba2fc5d997dddb999c6b060be7cf0d50a471a844ad88d743ab4ae6f39e3a1ed1&width=400&height=225)
A Ukrainian serviceman repairs a shelter near Donetsk, Ukraine. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UMGZMRVUH7KE4DGGL6IPRV24KU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cb49605a13cd901c2738510f31514d58cdeca75b86a4ea99bda6ac9b54432ef5&width=400&height=225)
Aircraft are lined up on 'USS Harry S Truman' in the Adriatic Sea. The Truman strike group is operating under Nato command and control along with several other Nato allies for co-ordinated maritime manoeuvres, anti-submarine warfare training and long-range training. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VHHPSZK36NCIDA5YKC34WB3J44.jpg?smart=true&auth=7bf0e84570ab0a4aa4e6f7023f168ac6eff4f8d4118a381cf9acd495ca24f230&width=400&height=225)
Russian soldiers attend the Yurginsky training ground in the Kemerovo region, Russia. AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VFPGGJZ2JBH6MUJ24YNARNCVGU.jpg?smart=true&auth=dba239939ff5bc9ddc8aef719f2121a79659968bdeaa2eddde8260712be61f0f&width=400&height=225)
A Ukrainian serviceman lays flowers where one of his friends was killed in 2017 near Avdiivka. Anatolii Stepanov / AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6YAFDCAMGWGARPW6SCX7NASO3U.jpg?smart=true&auth=aa3d190abc8772a695b16c85bf219fbbd63115b7d9ace088e5660ec8d8828757&width=400&height=225)
A Ukrainian serviceman stands guard in a dugout on the frontline with the Russia-backed separatists near Avdiivka. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NUOEJCSSK4EJEUOH5OK4KUJGRQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=966219c78e91dc95dcf4e88e25204e2d82d85cfcae30947f19c964b810a68796&width=400&height=225)
This satellite image shows troops gathered at a training ground in Pogonovo, Russia. AP Photo
Nato concerned by Russian troop deployments in Belarus
Alliance expects Moscow to station 30,000 troops on allied territory bordering Ukraine
![Tim Stickings](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F345e69ed-58bd-4b19-a239-018e01f0c34d.png?smart=true&auth=95572e6b1caa26b15b89defef2bb7ebe406f60dfe25bf77d1fe90269af9b1b9f&width=70&height=70)
Tim Stickings
03 February, 2022
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