Ukraine: Military report says Russia boosted troops to 120,000 near border

Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) Ukrainian defense officials say Russia has increased troop numbers near the Ukrainian border to 120,000 people, including additional army, air force and naval personnel.

According to its latest ongoing security assessment -- shared with CNN by Ukrainian security sources -- the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said "combat and other military equipment, such as tanks, armed vehicles and 'Iskander' missiles remain near the border of Ukraine," following numerous Russian military exercises.

Russia regularly "redeploys and accumulates its military units to maintain tension in the region," the assessment said, allowing it to "create striking forces rapidly, and lays the ground for quick reinforcement."

Months of steady military increases along the Russia-Ukraine frontier have alarmed Ukrainian and Western officials. CNN reported last week that Russian forces had capabilities in place along the Ukrainian border to carry out a swift and immediate invasion, including erecting supply lines such as medical units and fuel that could sustain a drawn-out conflict.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the suggestion that Russia would invade Ukraine as "provocative."