NATO Alleges Russian Military Buildup in E. Ukraine
Last updated on: November 12, 2014 1:20 PM
NATO on Wednesday said it has observed fresh columns of Russian tanks, artillery and combat troops entering eastern Ukraine in the past few days, and Ukraine has redeployed government forces in anticipation of a fresh offensive by pro-Russian separatists.
Those actions, along with an upsurge in violations of a September 5 cease-fire between the rebels and Ukrainian government troops, have fanned worries that full-scale fighting may resume.
"We have seen columns of Russian equipment – primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defense systems – and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine," said NATO’s supreme commander, U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove.
A day earlier, Breedlove said at least 250 to 300 Russian troops remained inside eastern Ukraine helping the separatists. He also said that eight Russian battalions remained on Russia's border with Ukraine, and that Moscow was moving forces capable of using nuclear weapons into Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in March.
Russia dismisses accusation
Russia immediately denied the allegations.
"We have stopped paying attention to unfounded statements" by NATO's Breedlove "about his 'seeing' Russian military columns," said Igor Konashenkov, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman.
Moscow repeatedly has denied any official military involvement in Ukraine, and has described Russian troops fighting alongside rebels as volunteers.
Ukraine’s defense minister, Stepan Poltorak, said Kyiv's forces were being repositioned "to react to unexpected actions of armed groups" in areas outside Kyiv's control. He made his remarks at a government meeting Wednesday, adding that the rebels have received reinforcements.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk called for international engagement to establish peace. He said Ukraine is doing its utmost, but its "powers are limited," especially when facing a nuclear power.
Russian military equipment, artillery
Monitors for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Tuesday reported seeing a convoy of unmarked green military trucks, with tarpaulin covers, just outside of Donetsk moving toward the city center. The monitors said five of the trucks were each towing 120-millimeter howitzer artillery pieces, while another five were each towing partly concealed multilaunch rocket systems.
Monitors for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Tuesday reported seeing a convoy of unmarked green military trucks, with tarpaulin covers, just outside of Donetsk moving toward the city center. The monitors said five of the trucks were each towing 120-millimeter howitzer artillery pieces, while another five were each towing partly concealed multilaunch rocket systems.
A Reuters reporter also recounted seeing "identified military trucks in the center of Donetsk on Wednesday, with soldiers in green uniform without insignia standing nearby. Russian soldiers spotted by local residents have often worn no insignia."
Also Tuesday, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said "Russian mercenaries" were reinforcing rebel forces near the "line of confrontation."
Escalation affects economy
With the threat of resumed fighting, Ukraine's hryvnia currency has plummeted, Reuters reported.
The news agency also noted that Russia's ruble has fallen by nearly a third this year against the U.S. dollar, driven at least in part by Western sanctions against Moscow. voa
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