Two likely Russian military supply and maintenance bases have been established in southern Ukraine and Crimea, Maxar satellite imagery shows, and are likely used to reinforce and resupply operations in and near Mariupol.
Why it matters: Russian ground forces are moving further into eastern Ukraine, where conditions are being created for a massive offensive in the Donbass region, Maxar said in a note to reporters.
- These deployments 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 Ukrainian border.
- Several convoys rumbled through eastern Ukraine collectively contain more than 200 vehicles.
- There are signs of continued artillery shelling in and around Mariupol. Smoke and fire came from a number of buildings and from an iron and steel factory – believed to be where some of the last Ukrainian forces in the city are bunkered.
The big picture: Other images recently captured by Maxar showed a Russian convoy moving south through the eastern town of Velykyi Burluk towards the Donbass region.
- The transport was at least eight miles long and consisted of hundreds of armored vehicles and trucks carrying artillery and auxiliary equipment.
The United Nations Human Rights Council, from which Russia was suspended last week, estimates that at least 1,892 civilians have been killed and 2,558 injured during the Russian invasion so far.
- It stressed that its estimates were likely to be significantly lower than the actual numbers as ongoing fighting delayed its documentation efforts.
Russian military equipment in Dzhankoi, Crimea on April 12. Satellite Image: ©2022 Maxar Technologies
A Russian maintenance area for armored vehicles and equipment near an airfield in Kherson, Ukraine, April 12. Satellite Image: ©2022 Maxar Technologies 
Burning buildings in Mariupol, Ukraine, on April 12. Satellite Image: ©2022 Maxar Technologies
A Russian convoy near Bilokurakyne, Ukraine, on April 12. Satellite Image: ©2022 Maxar Technologies
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