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Ukraine rebels have powerful new Russian-made rockets - OSCE | Ukraine rebels have powerful new Russian-made rockets - OSCE |
(35 minutes later) | |
International monitors say they have found a new type of Russian-made rocket system in rebel-held eastern Ukraine. | International monitors say they have found a new type of Russian-made rocket system in rebel-held eastern Ukraine. |
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) spotted the powerful TOS-1 Buratino multiple rocket launcher in Luhansk. | The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) spotted the powerful TOS-1 Buratino multiple rocket launcher in Luhansk. |
Meanwhile, the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France discussed peace efforts in Ukraine, with Paris saying the pullout of light weapons would start on Saturday. | |
Moscow denies arming the rebels. | |
It also rejects accusations by Ukraine and the West that it is sending heavy weapons to the pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. | |
However, the Kremlin admits that Russian "volunteers" are fighting alongside the rebels. | However, the Kremlin admits that Russian "volunteers" are fighting alongside the rebels. |
Indiscriminate damage | Indiscriminate damage |
The OSCE, which is monitoring the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, said in a statement that it found the Buratino on a military training ground run by the so-called People's Republic of Luhansk in the village of Kruhlyk. | The OSCE, which is monitoring the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, said in a statement that it found the Buratino on a military training ground run by the so-called People's Republic of Luhansk in the village of Kruhlyk. |
The rockets have two types of warhead - either incendiary, which can spread flames over tens of kilometres, or thermobaric, which sucks up oxygen to boost the explosion. | The rockets have two types of warhead - either incendiary, which can spread flames over tens of kilometres, or thermobaric, which sucks up oxygen to boost the explosion. |
A spokesman for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine told the BBC the discovery was particularly significant because of the damage the rockets could cause. | A spokesman for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine told the BBC the discovery was particularly significant because of the damage the rockets could cause. |
"This is a very destructive weapon which is fired indiscriminately," he said. | "This is a very destructive weapon which is fired indiscriminately," he said. |
Russian-made Grad rockets have been used by both sides in the conflict, but the Buratino is a more powerful system. | Russian-made Grad rockets have been used by both sides in the conflict, but the Buratino is a more powerful system. |
TOS-1 Buratino multiple rocket system | TOS-1 Buratino multiple rocket system |
Sources: Russian Defence Ministry, TV Zvezda | Sources: Russian Defence Ministry, TV Zvezda |
Ukraine crisis: Russia tests new weapons | Ukraine crisis: Russia tests new weapons |
Ukraine 'can't stop Russian armour' | Ukraine 'can't stop Russian armour' |
Ukraine's military previously said the Buratino - nicknamed "scorched earth" in Russia - had been used against government troops in rebel-held eastern Ukraine. | Ukraine's military previously said the Buratino - nicknamed "scorched earth" in Russia - had been used against government troops in rebel-held eastern Ukraine. |
But the OSCE told the BBC the sighting on 25 September was the first it had on record. | But the OSCE told the BBC the sighting on 25 September was the first it had on record. |
Only Russia produces the system, according to defence analysis group IHS Jane's and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. | Only Russia produces the system, according to defence analysis group IHS Jane's and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. |
Russian troops used it in Afghanistan in the 1980s against the Mujahideen and in Chechnya against separatist rebels in 1999-2000. | Russian troops used it in Afghanistan in the 1980s against the Mujahideen and in Chechnya against separatist rebels in 1999-2000. |
Russia has sold a more advanced version - Solntsepyok ("heat of the sun") - to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Iraq. | Russia has sold a more advanced version - Solntsepyok ("heat of the sun") - to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Iraq. |
However, experts say the Buratino was not exported to Ukraine before the conflict in the east of the country broke out last year. | However, experts say the Buratino was not exported to Ukraine before the conflict in the east of the country broke out last year. |
Summit overshadowed | Summit overshadowed |
In Paris, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday for the first time since they agreed a peace deal for Ukraine in Minsk in February. | |
The Normandy Four meeting assessed all elements of the Minsk deal, including the staging of local elections in the rebel-held regions and the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact. | |
Mr Hollande said the pullout would start on Friday. | |
He also said the elections in the rebel areas must be held according to Ukrainian law, as envisaged in the Minsk peace deal. | |
The government in Kiev and the pro-Russian rebels earlier finally agreed to withdraw weapons of less than 100mm calibre from the front line. | |
However, the rebels said before the Paris meeting that they still intended to proceed with staging local elections on their terms. | |
Kiev says such elections - to be held on different dates from the rest of Ukraine and not according to Ukrainian law - would be "fake". |