Russia started massing troops on the Ukrainian border in **March and April 2021**. The first major military buildup began in March 2021, when the Russian Armed Forces deployed 3,000 paratroopers to the border for "large-scale exercises". The announcement was made following the Ukrainian government's crackdown on Viktor Medvedchuk earlier that month. Medvedchuk was a leading pro-Russian Ukrainian opposition politician and tycoon with close personal ties to Vladimir Putin. An analysis by Time published in February 2022 cited the event as the start of the Russian military buildup near Ukraine.
A second build-up followed from October 2021 to February 2022, in both Russia and Belarus. By February 2022, there were an estimated **190,000 Russian troops** massed on the Ukrainian border, along with tanks, artillery, and other military equipment.
The Russian government repeatedly denied having plans to invade or attack Ukraine; however, on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invasion has caused a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, with millions of people displaced from their homes.
As of July 2023, there are still Russian troops massed on the Ukrainian border. The threat of further Russian aggression remains a major concern for Ukraine and the West.