Did long predicted invasion of mainland Ukraine “officially” just start? UK journalists Shaun Walker (Guardian) and Roland Oliphant (Telegraph) seem to think it has, seeing Armored Personnel Carriers with official Russian plates cross the border. Various other journalists documenting the situation have photographed columns of tanks and other heavy military vehicles heading in the direction of the border.
As this develops, of course, be sure to follow us on Twitter:
Follow @EuromaidanPress
(last updated Aug 15, 10:45am EST)
It’s not just white aid lorries that are heading down the highway towards Rostov: military vehicles, too. pic.twitter.com/Z12t8cbx0n
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) August 14, 2014
An @epaphotos correspondent saw this nice little vehicle when covering the aid convoy nr Kamensk Shakhtinsky pic.twitter.com/TB9VWoryfj — Nikolaus von Twickel (@niktwick) August 14, 2014
Military transports kept rolling by toward border… pic.twitter.com/VOV2IUudVi — Andrew Roth (@ARothNYT) August 14, 2014
Erm ok so this isn’t humanitarian aid. Column of over 20 APCs, 10km from the Ukraine border, and heading closer pic.twitter.com/OMvJmHzsx1 — Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 14, 2014
So @RolandOliphant and I just saw a column of APCs and vehicles with official Russian military plates cross border into Ukraine. — Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 14, 2014
Didn’t even turn off their headlights. Saw Russian military plates on support vehicles, but no markings I could make out on APCs. — Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) August 14, 2014
NB I don’t think this was “the invasion” proper. This is probably what has been happening for a while. Extraordinary to see it though. — Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 14, 2014
#BreakingReport of Russian helicopters landing in #Novopskov,northern #Luhansk oblast. #Unconfirmed! — ConflictReporter (@MiddleEast_BRK) August 14, 2014
RT @21brklyn: 9 Russian tanks passed to Donetsk over H21 highway pic.twitter.com/WQuZzXrRkH via @21brklyn http://t.co/ftwUGnzXoN — Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) August 14, 2014
A dozen of these have just passed by us in the direction of the border. Cannot confirm that is where they’re heading. pic.twitter.com/XOya5Z9NT4
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) August 15, 2014
Колонна бронемашин (12 шт) идёт в сторону укр.границы. Не могу утверждать и не утверждаю, что – в Украину. pic.twitter.com/Q4XQW3YH2c — Jüri Maloverjan (@MaloverjanBBC) August 15, 2014
“A column of armored vehicles (12 pieces) goes towards the Ukrainian border.”
Вот такая вот “гуманитарка”… Изварино-Донецк pic.twitter.com/ag6coOZFeh
— Sobiratel.Net (@Sobiratel_net) August 15, 2014
#Russia invasion of #Ukraine: #Putin‘s tanks en route to #Donetsk – #moscow #kremlin #sanctions #crimea #gazprom #war pic.twitter.com/8BIsqO1EHT
— East of Brussels (@EastOfBrussels) August 15, 2014
Can anyone identify these chaps? pic.twitter.com/5cVUN2xqd2
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 15, 2014
Massive column of APCs flying Russian flags and some with мc – peace keeper – driving past aid convoy and barrelling it toward Donetsk
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) August 15, 2014
These guys. Lots of them. pic.twitter.com/XM1QCCpmNQ
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) August 15, 2014
NATO confirms Russian “incursion” into #Ukraine via border crossing http://t.co/D3o0pXsuw0
— Mat Babiak (@MatBabiak) August 15, 2014
Lithuanian foreign minister in Brussels: over night 70 Russian APC’s and tanks invaded Ukraine. EU response silence? http://t.co/j6BsMlN1Sz
— Taras Kuzio (@TarasKuzio) August 15, 2014
Ukrainian forces engage Russian troops on Ukraine soil http://t.co/Z3JsxpcDGY
— CNBC (EMEA) (@CNBC_EMEA) August 15, 2014
In other news: Ukraine and Russia appear to be at war http://t.co/dSTALoo9VN
— Tim Montgomerie (@TimMontgomerie) August 15, 2014
This article will be updated as the situation progresses on Twitter.