Russia’s announcement of the intent to send a “humanitarian convoy” to Eastern Ukraine raised concerns of the move being a guise for a full-scale Russian invasion of the country. A post on a Russian social network VK.com apparently made by a Russian soldier could be another proof of Russia’s actual intent behind the humanitarian mission:
Semen Borisov, allegedly a Russian soldier from the 1117 Anti-Air Missile Regiment, 2nd Taman Guard Motorized Division, posted photos of military trucks painted in white, the color common for peacekeeper vehicles. His account has since been deleted.
Borisov The convoy The convoyAnother soldier, Alexander Popov, gives a closer look at the Russian military trucks, complete with the orange-and-black St. George ribbons, the symbol of pro-Russian insurgents. The convoy is geo-located to Naro-Fominsk, Russia:
Earlier today, NATO had warned of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine under humanitarian cover. The Russian “humanitarian mission” was allegedly approved by the International Red Cross. The organization, however, denied the existence of such an agreement. Whatever the intent behind the “humanitarian convoy” may be, Russia is using it on her own and for her own intent.
A Youtube video then surfaced showing the white humanitarian convoy surrounded by Russian military personnel. At the end of the video a 76N6 Clam Shell Low Altitude Acquisition Radar is seen, used for surface-to-air missile systems.
This is not the first time pictures condemning Russian activities in the Ukrainian crisis appeared on a social network. For instance, last month another Russian soldier boasted “shelling Ukraine all night“, also on VK.com. The soldier later tried to explain it away by blaming a hacker attack, but later NATO and the US State Department corroborated the claims of Russian troops shelling Ukrainian positions across the border. This and similar events prompted proposals of legislation limiting Russian soldiers’ use of the Internet, but the condemning evidence is already here.
[hr] Sources: Twitter, YoutubePrepared bt Kirill Mikhailov, additional screenshots by Mat Babiak
