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Ukraine crisis: Nato images 'show Russia troops' | Ukraine crisis: Nato images 'show Russia troops' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Nato has released satellite images it says show Russian armed forces inside Ukrainian territory to help rebels fight government forces. | Nato has released satellite images it says show Russian armed forces inside Ukrainian territory to help rebels fight government forces. |
Ukraine's president held a security council meeting on Thursday over the "sharp aggravation of the situation". Russia has denied the claims. | Ukraine's president held a security council meeting on Thursday over the "sharp aggravation of the situation". Russia has denied the claims. |
Earlier, rebels opened a new front in the south by seizing the coastal town of Novoazovsk. | Earlier, rebels opened a new front in the south by seizing the coastal town of Novoazovsk. |
At least 2,119 people have been killed in four months of fighting. | At least 2,119 people have been killed in four months of fighting. |
Amid condemnation from Western powers, the United Nations Security Council is holding an emergency meeting in New York to discuss the crisis. | |
'Significant escalation' | 'Significant escalation' |
Nato Brigadier General Niko Tak said more than 1,000 Russian troops were operating inside Ukraine, both supporting the separatists and fighting on their side. | Nato Brigadier General Niko Tak said more than 1,000 Russian troops were operating inside Ukraine, both supporting the separatists and fighting on their side. |
He told the BBC there had been a "significant escalation in the level and sophistication of Russia's military interference in Ukraine" over the past two weeks. | He told the BBC there had been a "significant escalation in the level and sophistication of Russia's military interference in Ukraine" over the past two weeks. |
"[Nato has] detected large quantities of advanced weapons, including air defence systems, artillery, tanks, and armoured personnel carriers being transferred to separatist forces in eastern Ukraine," he said. | "[Nato has] detected large quantities of advanced weapons, including air defence systems, artillery, tanks, and armoured personnel carriers being transferred to separatist forces in eastern Ukraine," he said. |
"Russia is reinforcing and resupplying separatist forces in a blatant attempt to change the momentum of the fighting, which is currently favouring the Ukrainian military." | "Russia is reinforcing and resupplying separatist forces in a blatant attempt to change the momentum of the fighting, which is currently favouring the Ukrainian military." |
But Russia's ambassador to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov, said Nato had "never produced a single piece of evidence" for its accusations. | But Russia's ambassador to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov, said Nato had "never produced a single piece of evidence" for its accusations. |
He said the only Russian soldiers on Ukrainian soil were 10 paratroopers captured earlier this week. | He said the only Russian soldiers on Ukrainian soil were 10 paratroopers captured earlier this week. |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced the European Council will discuss taking further sanctions against Russia during a summit on Saturday. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced the European Council will discuss taking further sanctions against Russia during a summit on Saturday. |
Other European leaders echoed her sentiments: | Other European leaders echoed her sentiments: |
Ukraine's security council announced a return to mandatory conscription on Thursday after holding a meeting with President Petro Poroshenko. | Ukraine's security council announced a return to mandatory conscription on Thursday after holding a meeting with President Petro Poroshenko. |
"The situation is extremely difficult, but it is manageable enough for us not to panic and continue calculating our actions," the president told security chiefs. | "The situation is extremely difficult, but it is manageable enough for us not to panic and continue calculating our actions," the president told security chiefs. |
Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk earlier warned Russia had "unleashed a war in Europe", and called on the international community to take "effective steps". | Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk earlier warned Russia had "unleashed a war in Europe", and called on the international community to take "effective steps". |
Analysis: Keir Giles, Conflict Studies Research Centre | Analysis: Keir Giles, Conflict Studies Research Centre |
President Vladimir Putin received authorisation from parliament to use troops in Ukraine in March. But in June, during an easing of tension, he asked for that authorisation to be revoked. | President Vladimir Putin received authorisation from parliament to use troops in Ukraine in March. But in June, during an easing of tension, he asked for that authorisation to be revoked. |
The statements that the Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine are "volunteers" and "on leave" both add a layer of implausible deniability, and get around Russia's own constitutional and legal safeguards against sending servicemen abroad without the proper authority. | The statements that the Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine are "volunteers" and "on leave" both add a layer of implausible deniability, and get around Russia's own constitutional and legal safeguards against sending servicemen abroad without the proper authority. |
Meanwhile, Russia's next steps are an open question. One concern is that the more direct involvement of Russian troops may create the conditions for a "humanitarian intervention" by Russia, using "peacekeepers". | Meanwhile, Russia's next steps are an open question. One concern is that the more direct involvement of Russian troops may create the conditions for a "humanitarian intervention" by Russia, using "peacekeepers". |
'All volunteers' | 'All volunteers' |
Ukrainian government forces had made significant advances against the separatists in recent weeks, but those gains seem in doubt with rebels now operating in two distinct areas of Donetsk region. | Ukrainian government forces had made significant advances against the separatists in recent weeks, but those gains seem in doubt with rebels now operating in two distinct areas of Donetsk region. |
Separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko earlier told Russian TV that 3-4,000 Russian citizens were fighting in their ranks. | Separatist leader Alexander Zakharchenko earlier told Russian TV that 3-4,000 Russian citizens were fighting in their ranks. |
He said many of the Russians were former service-people or current service personnel on leave, insisting that all were volunteers. | He said many of the Russians were former service-people or current service personnel on leave, insisting that all were volunteers. |
Ukraine confirmed reports that Novoazovsk had been captured by the rebels, whom they described as "Russian troops". | Ukraine confirmed reports that Novoazovsk had been captured by the rebels, whom they described as "Russian troops". |
It said it had withdrawn its armed forces to save lives, and that Ukrainian soldiers were now reinforcing the defences of the strategic port city of Mariupol. | It said it had withdrawn its armed forces to save lives, and that Ukrainian soldiers were now reinforcing the defences of the strategic port city of Mariupol. |
The port has until now been peaceful and cut off from rebel positions. | The port has until now been peaceful and cut off from rebel positions. |
Pro-Russian fighters have been trying for weeks to break out of an area further north in the Donetsk region where they are almost encircled. | Pro-Russian fighters have been trying for weeks to break out of an area further north in the Donetsk region where they are almost encircled. |
Analysts say the separatists could also be seeking a land link between Russia and Crimea, which would give them control over the entire Sea of Azov. | Analysts say the separatists could also be seeking a land link between Russia and Crimea, which would give them control over the entire Sea of Azov. |
Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in March. | Russia annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in March. |
War in eastern Ukraine: The human cost | War in eastern Ukraine: The human cost |