FILE - Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, left, speaks during a gathering with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, astatine the Pentagon connected Nov. 18, 2021, successful Washington. Ukraines defence curate estimates that Russia has amassed much than 94,000 troops adjacent their borders and says determination is simply a probability of a large-scale escalation successful precocious January. Ukrainian and Western officials precocious voiced alarm that a Russian unit buildup adjacent Ukraine could herald an invasion. Moscow has denied readying to invade Ukraine and accused the West of fabricating claims to screen up its ain assertive designs. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) (Manuel Balce Ceneta, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

KYIV – Ukraine's defence curate estimated Friday that Russia has amassed much than 94,000 troops adjacent their borders and said determination is simply a probability of a “large-scale escalation” successful precocious January.

Ukrainian and Western officials precocious voiced alarm astir a Russian unit buildup adjacent Ukraine, saying they feared it could herald an invasion. Moscow has denied readying to invade and accused Ukraine and its Western backers of fabricating claims to screen up their ain allegedly assertive designs.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told lawmakers Friday that the fig of Russian troops adjacent Ukraine and successful Russia-annexed Crimea is estimated to beryllium 94,300.

“Our quality work analyzes each scenarios, including the worst ones. It notes that a probability of a large-scale escalation connected the portion of Russia exists. The astir probable clip erstwhile (Russia) volition beryllium acceptable for the escalation is extremity of January,” Reznikov said.

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The curate noted an escalation “is a probable scenario, but not certain, and our task is to avert it."

Russia and Ukraine person remained locked successful a tense tug-of-war aft Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula successful 2014 and threw its value down a separatist insurgency successful Ukraine’s eastbound concern heartland, known arsenic the Donbas. More than 14,000 radical person died successful the fighting.

Repeated reports astir Russia gathering up troops adjacent Ukraine this twelvemonth ignited concerns astir the struggle intensifying, with tensions increasing successful caller weeks.

Russia traded caller accusations and threats with Ukraine, the United States and its NATO allies this week. The West threatened the Kremlin with the toughest sanctions yet if it launches an penetration of Ukraine.

Russia, seeing caller U.S. and European enactment for Ukraine’s military, sternly warned that immoderate beingness of NATO troops and weapons connected Ukrainian ungraded represents a “red line.”

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The Kremlin besides expressed interest that Ukraine mightiness usage unit to reclaim power of the country's rebel east.

Reznikov said Ukraine wouldn't bash thing to provoke Russia but is prepared to respond successful lawsuit of an attack.

“Ukraine is astir funny successful governmental and diplomatic resolution,” the defence curate said.

Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev reemphasized Friday that Russia is not readying to onslaught Ukraine.

“We don't person immoderate plans to onslaught Ukraine. We don't person immoderate heightened subject enactment adjacent Ukraine's borders. There is nary mentation underway for an offensive,” Kosachev told Russia's authorities TV transmission Russia-24.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This worldly whitethorn not beryllium published, broadcast, rewritten oregon redistributed without permission.