Ukraine crisis: Russia 'building up troops on border', claim US officials

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-russia-building-up-troops-on-border-claim-us-officials-10197091.html

Version 0 of 1.

Russia is sending more troops to its border with Ukraine, where it has built up its largest force since October last year, US officials have said.

Washington also said that pro-Moscow forces had a “large concentration” of command and control equipment in eastern Ukraine and had moved extra air-defence systems to the front line.

“This is the highest amount of Russian air defence equipment in eastern Ukraine since August,” State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said. She added that there was “no doubt Russia is involved in the training” of separatists, with exercises taking place.

There are fears that the ceasefire negotiated in February was only a temporary pause in operations by the rebels. The main concern is that the rebels could try to take more territory to provide a land link to Crimea.