BEHIND THE NEWS

RUSSIAN forces on Ukraine’s border have daubed assault vehicles with “invasion stripes” heightening fears of all-out war.

The Daily Mirror can also reveal Russia will soon have 107,000 troops in the region.

It is far more than previously thought and emerged in leaked documents that include shocking details on Moscow’s firepower.

Ukrainian military estimates of the advancing force include 1,300 battle tanks, 3,700 drones, 1,300 artillery and mortar units and 380 multiple launch rocket systems.

The number of troops represents at least 35,000 more Russian frontline soldiers than the entire British Army following defence cuts.

Yesterday in Astrakhan, 350 miles from the front line, Russian BTR 80 armoured vehicles painted with invasion stripes were spotted heading in convoy to the railway station.

Estimates of Putin’s force were revealed in papers leaked to the Mirror by Kyiv sources after Moscow claimed it is being “provoked”.

They also reveal Russia has deployed “sniper squads” to pick off Ukrainian infantry dug in.

It is thought Ukraine has 100,000 troops, many of them taught by British and US forces.

A paper estimates by the end of the month, Russia will have deployed a further 26 battle groups to reinforce the “existing” 28, as well as artillery, air defence and reconnaissance units.

The document also warns Putin might attack in response to a predicted attempt by Ukraine to liberate pro-russian occupied areas in Donetsk and Luhansk.