The private US company that published the photos said new commercial satellite images show a flurry of Russian military activity at several locations near Ukraine, amid fears that Moscow may launch an attack on its ex-Soviet neighbor.

Russia, which has repeatedly denied plans to invade, is conducting major military exercises in former Soviet Belarus, as part of a dramatic build-up of forces in northern, eastern and southern Ukraine.

US company Maxar Technologies, which has been following the buildup of Russian forces for weeks, said on Tuesday that images taken on Sunday and Monday showed significant new activity in Belarus, annexed Crimea and western Russia.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the photos.

Maksar noted the arrival of several large deployments of troops and attack helicopters, as well as new deployments of ground attack aircraft and bomber aircraft to forward positions.

Maksar said the photos also captured the departure of several ground forces units from existing garrisons along with other combat units seen forming a convoy.

(Reporting by Tom Palmforth) Editing by Andrew Heavens

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