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Ukrainian Military Plane Is Shot Down as Russia Adds to Presence at Border Ukrainian Military Plane Is Shot Down as Russia Adds to Presence at Border
(about 1 month later)
LUHANSK, Ukraine — A military transport plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine on Monday, Ukrainian officials said, while new reports emerged that Russia was building up forces along its border with Ukraine. LUHANSK, Ukraine — A military transport plane was shot down over eastern Ukraine on Monday, Ukrainian officials said, while new reports emerged that Russia was building up forces along its border with Ukraine.
A Russian-made AN-26 cargo plane was brought down not far from the Russian border, near the town of Davydo-Nikolskoye. It contained food rations and water, and lay in a crumpled, smoking heap in a field on Monday evening. A spokeswoman for the separatist Luhansk People’s Republic, Oksana Chigrina, said rebel forces had taken five members of its crew hostage, although the claim could not be verified.A Russian-made AN-26 cargo plane was brought down not far from the Russian border, near the town of Davydo-Nikolskoye. It contained food rations and water, and lay in a crumpled, smoking heap in a field on Monday evening. A spokeswoman for the separatist Luhansk People’s Republic, Oksana Chigrina, said rebel forces had taken five members of its crew hostage, although the claim could not be verified.
It was not immediately clear who shot down the plane or the circumstances surrounding the incident. Ukraine’s minister of defense, Valeriy Heletey, said the plane was flying at 6,500 meters, or more than 21,000 feet, well beyond the reach of the shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles the rebels are known to have used before.It was not immediately clear who shot down the plane or the circumstances surrounding the incident. Ukraine’s minister of defense, Valeriy Heletey, said the plane was flying at 6,500 meters, or more than 21,000 feet, well beyond the reach of the shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles the rebels are known to have used before.
He speculated that it had been “downed by another, more powerful missile that probably was launched from the territory of the Russian Federation.” Russia’s Foreign Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.He speculated that it had been “downed by another, more powerful missile that probably was launched from the territory of the Russian Federation.” Russia’s Foreign Ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.
But many here in this battered eastern city believed the most likely culprits were the rebels, who last month shot down a plane in eastern Ukraine, killing more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers and officers. Ms. Chigrina, the rebel spokeswoman, did not say whether rebels had brought down the plane, but said of the Ukrainians, “obviously they didn’t shoot themselves.”But many here in this battered eastern city believed the most likely culprits were the rebels, who last month shot down a plane in eastern Ukraine, killing more than 40 Ukrainian soldiers and officers. Ms. Chigrina, the rebel spokeswoman, did not say whether rebels had brought down the plane, but said of the Ukrainians, “obviously they didn’t shoot themselves.”
As relations between Kiev and Moscow continue to deteriorate, a NATO official said Monday that the Kremlin had been rebuilding its forces on the border with Ukraine and now had an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 troops in the area. Russia had amassed about 40,000 troops on the border earlier this year, after a pro-Western revolution in Kiev toppled Ukraine’s government. But Russia subsequently pulled nearly all of them back, with levels falling to below 1,000 last month.As relations between Kiev and Moscow continue to deteriorate, a NATO official said Monday that the Kremlin had been rebuilding its forces on the border with Ukraine and now had an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 troops in the area. Russia had amassed about 40,000 troops on the border earlier this year, after a pro-Western revolution in Kiev toppled Ukraine’s government. But Russia subsequently pulled nearly all of them back, with levels falling to below 1,000 last month.
“Since mid-June we have seen evidence of a progressive buildup of thousands of Russian troops close to the Ukrainian border,” said the official, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. “This is not a step in the right direction. It is a step away from de-escalating the situation.”“Since mid-June we have seen evidence of a progressive buildup of thousands of Russian troops close to the Ukrainian border,” said the official, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. “This is not a step in the right direction. It is a step away from de-escalating the situation.”
Ukraine’s state news agency reported over the weekend that a column of rebels in military vehicles, including tanks, had broken through the border from Russia. Western leaders and Ukraine’s president, Petro O. Poroshenko, have accused Russia of surreptitiously arming the rebels, even while calling for a negotiated settlement of the conflict. Russia has denied providing the rebels with military assistance.Ukraine’s state news agency reported over the weekend that a column of rebels in military vehicles, including tanks, had broken through the border from Russia. Western leaders and Ukraine’s president, Petro O. Poroshenko, have accused Russia of surreptitiously arming the rebels, even while calling for a negotiated settlement of the conflict. Russia has denied providing the rebels with military assistance.
Luhansk, close to the Russian border and crucial to the survival of the pro-Russian insurgency, was the scene of intense shelling over the weekend.Luhansk, close to the Russian border and crucial to the survival of the pro-Russian insurgency, was the scene of intense shelling over the weekend.
Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said Monday that troops had retaken several villages around the city, including Metalist, Oleksandrivsk, Bile and Rozkishne. But on Monday there was no evidence of Ukrainian troops in at least two of those areas.Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said Monday that troops had retaken several villages around the city, including Metalist, Oleksandrivsk, Bile and Rozkishne. But on Monday there was no evidence of Ukrainian troops in at least two of those areas.
Valentina, an accountant who had come back to her home in Oleksandrivsk from her dacha to collect some of her belongings, said she had not seen any Ukrainian soldiers, but she had heard the artillery, which she described as a quick whistle and then a boom. It was not clear whose artillery hit the area, but many assumed the Ukrainians were to blame.Valentina, an accountant who had come back to her home in Oleksandrivsk from her dacha to collect some of her belongings, said she had not seen any Ukrainian soldiers, but she had heard the artillery, which she described as a quick whistle and then a boom. It was not clear whose artillery hit the area, but many assumed the Ukrainians were to blame.
“They are forcing us to make a choice — become a separatist or leave,” said a young man with a backpack and a ponytail who identified himself only as Yuri, out of concern for his safety. “For every 10 rebels, they kill 50 peaceful people.”“They are forcing us to make a choice — become a separatist or leave,” said a young man with a backpack and a ponytail who identified himself only as Yuri, out of concern for his safety. “For every 10 rebels, they kill 50 peaceful people.”
In all, health authorities in Luhansk said that shelling killed six people on Saturday, three on Sunday and at least two on Monday, including a woman who was apparently pushing a baby carriage.In all, health authorities in Luhansk said that shelling killed six people on Saturday, three on Sunday and at least two on Monday, including a woman who was apparently pushing a baby carriage.
Deepening the mystery, many of the city’s main streets and nearby highways were gouged by tank treads, suggesting a large movement of military vehicles, but whose was unclear.Deepening the mystery, many of the city’s main streets and nearby highways were gouged by tank treads, suggesting a large movement of military vehicles, but whose was unclear.
Several residents said that they saw tanks on Sunday, but that they did not know whether they belonged to the rebels or the Ukrainians. It seemed possible the tanks belonged to the rebels, as the treads continued down a large swath of the highway from Luhansk to Donetsk, the rebel-controlled regional capital.Several residents said that they saw tanks on Sunday, but that they did not know whether they belonged to the rebels or the Ukrainians. It seemed possible the tanks belonged to the rebels, as the treads continued down a large swath of the highway from Luhansk to Donetsk, the rebel-controlled regional capital.