Russia Amasses Large Troop Numbers Near Ukrainian Border, Military Buildup Escalates Regional Tension

By the end of March 2021, Russia had accumulated a large concentration of troops and heavy military equipment along the eastern border of Ukraine and in the Crimea region, marking one of the largest military deployments since 2014. The Russian Ministry of Defense insisted the movement was part of routine military exercises aimed at countering NATO's "provocative activities."

However, the Ukrainian government and Western allies expressed strong alarm, viewing the buildup as Russia testing the West's resolve and potentially preparing for further military action. The U.S. and NATO called for Russia to de-escalate and reaffirmed their support for Ukraine's sovereignty. For conservative observers, this troop mobilization demonstrated Russia's sustained use of military coercion at the periphery of Europe to achieve geopolitical aims, proving that the Putin regime poses a constant and tangible threat to the Western-led security order.