KIEV – INTERNATIONAL – Ukraine Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk says Russian troops are now on Ukrainian soil.
The Ukrainian leader is warning that the situation in the east of the country is deteriorating rapidly.
Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk states, “Russia has sent a number of armoured personnel vehicles, tanks and troops. We can confirm that Russian military boots are on Ukrainian ground. Ukrainian forces are capable to tackle and cope with Russian-led guerrillas. But this is quite difficult for us to fight with Russia and its army.”
The Ukraine Security Organizations stated last night, “After yesterday’s fighting Ukrainian security forces gained a foothold on the eastern boundary of village Bezimenne. Novoazovsk-Mariupol road is under our control. Mobile mixed groups of soldiers, policemen and guards set up posts on the most dangerous routes of the probable enemy movement in the area of Mariupol. The town of Novoazovsk is shelled both from the Russian territory and from the occupied positions on the Ukrainian territory. However, the town remains under the control of our forces.
Russian Tank Inside Ukraine
This Youtube Video from the Ukraine Security Service shows what they are stating is a Russian tank.
“Military units around Mariupol were strengthened by additional forces. Last night in this area arrived 1-st operational brigade of the National Guard equipped with the new military hardware, which made the march in the area ATO after events dedicated to the Independence Day. Military enhance fortification lines. Currently, the operational situation in the Mariupol calm and controlled. Transport and the enterprise operating normally”.
A column of armored vehicles was spotted near the Russian side of the border.
While it isn’t clear where they had come from or where they were headed, Kiev says “The latest reports suggest troops are working with separatists to stage an offensive in smaller cities east Donetsk where fighting has been raging since April. Much of the city has become a war zone.
The Ukrainian Security Council on Thursday (August 28) posted video to its YouTube channel showing what it purports to be a Russian tank in the eastern Ukrainian city of Novoazovsk.
Ukraine’s security and defence council said on Thursday the border town of Novoazovsk and other parts of Ukraine’s south-east had fallen under the control of Russian forces.
The video, shot on Wednesday (August 27), was posted as Ukrainian defense officials and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Russian troops had encroached onto Ukrainian territory.
A NATO military officer said: “We assess well over 1,000 Russian troops are now operating inside Ukraine… They are supporting separatists (and) fighting with them.”
Russia says it has no involvement in the conflict between pro-Moscow rebels and the Ukrainian military, in which more than 2,200 people have been killed since April. Russia is denying that they are sending in weapons or troops.
