Russia-backed Terrorists Boast of Receiving Military Reinforcements from Russia

byUkrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

18/08/2014

2 minute read

On August 15, “Prime Minister” of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic Alexander Zakharchenko made a statement during a DNR leadership session that the Russia-backed terrorists had been bolstered by reinforcements from Russia. The 6-minute video with Zakharchenko’s speech was posted on the channel Novorossia TV in Youtube.

(English translation made by The Telegraph)

According to Zakharchenko, reinforcements consisted of 150 military vehicles, including 30 tanks, and 1,200 military personnel trained in Russia for 4 months. “We received reinforcements at the most crucial moment,” – emphasized one of terrorist leaders.

He also added that at that time “a corridor between Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic was established”.

On August 17, Press Secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov in an interview with radio station “Govorit Moskva” (Moscow Speaking) refuted Zakharchenko’s statement claiming that “no equipment is being supplied there”.

However, the fact of Russian military convoy crossing the Ukrainian border on August 15 was also confirmed by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and foreign journalists. According to a representative of Ukrainian NSDC Information Center Andriy Lysenko, “at night the column of military vehicles crossed the Ukrainian border near Izvarino. It was supplied to the militants by Russia and it was not humanitarian aid.” Presumably the military convoy was heading to Luhansk. On Thursday evening, correspondents from The Telegraph and The Guardian saw at least 23 armoured vehicles and military trucks crossing the border from Russia into Ukraine close to the Donetsk checkpoint, north of Rostov-on-Don. It was the first time that international media had reported such a crossing though the Ukrainian government had announced about such cases many times.

[hr]Source: MFA newsletter