Why it matters: Russian ground forces continue to move into eastern Ukraine, where the ground is being prepared for a massive attack in the Donbas region, Maxar told reporters.
These developments include dozens of armored vehicles, troops with tents and support equipment, stationed in fields and farms near Russian cities about five miles east of the border with Ukraine. Several buzzing convoys in eastern Ukraine together contain more than 200 vehicles. There are indications of continued artillery bombardment in and around Mariupol. Smoke and fire were seen coming from several buildings as well as from an iron and steel factory – where some of the last Ukrainian forces in the city are believed to be in storage.
The big picture: Other images taken by Maxar recently showed a Russian escort moving south through the eastern city of Velykyi Burluk to the Donbas region.
The carriage was at least eight miles long and consisted of hundreds of armored vehicles and trucks carrying artillery and support equipment.
The United Nations Human Rights Council, which suspended Russia last week, estimates that at least 1,892 civilians have been killed and 2,558 injured so far during the Russian invasion.
She stressed that her estimates are likely to be significantly lower than the actual prices, because the ongoing battles have delayed the documentation efforts.
Russian military equipment in Dzhankoi, Crimea, April 12. Satellite image: © 2022 Maxar Technologies A Russian armored vehicle and equipment maintenance site near an airport in Kherson, Ukraine, on April 12. Satellite image: © 2022 Maxar Technologies Buildings burning in Mariupol, Ukraine on April 12. Satellite image: © 2022 Maxar TechnologiesA Russian escort near Bilokurakyne, Ukraine, on April 12. Satellite image: © 2022 Maxar Technologies Go deeper: Russian atrocities fuel new discoveries in Ukraine military aid
