Ukrainian special services claim that Russia has created a powerful defense group in the annexed territory of Crimea, CNN reports. The deputy head of the Intelligence Service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Vadym Skibitsky, said that “the Russians have created a defense group on the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula and are preparing for defensive actions.”

“The infrastructure on the temporarily occupied peninsula is maintained in a state of combat readiness. A powerful ground and air component has been deployed in Crimea. For example, about 90 fighter jets and 60 combat helicopters,” said Skibitsky.

“A defense group has been created, which is taking measures to equip fortifications and a defense line,” he told Ukrainian television.

Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it intends to return all territories occupied by Russia, including Crimea, which was annexed by Russia after the so-called 2014 referendum, which Ukraine and most of the world criticized as illegitimate

Troops nicknamed “little green men” crossed the border from Russia to the peninsula before the annexation.

Meanwhile, satellite images showed the creation of large trench systems in the region.

“They are preparing for defensive operations on the territory of the peninsula,” Skibitskyi said, “they have chosen the most dangerous areas where a naval amphibious operation can be carried out, and now they are preparing defense lines there.”

The Russians even started military training of Crimean students

Mandatory military training of students has begun in schools in Crimea occupied by Russia, according to several reports of Russian state media, which also broadcast videos of children’s “training”.

A fragment of one of the reports broadcast by Russian television shows how students, including girls, are taught to collect and handle weapons, retrospectively encouraging them to do so.