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Ukraine crisis: Russian army vehicles seen near border | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Around a dozen Russian light tanks have been seen heading for the Ukrainian border, as a Russian aid convoy remains parked near the frontier. | |
The BBC saw the tanks early on Friday morning, but there was no confirmation that they were going to Ukraine. | |
Two other reporters say they have seen Russian army vehicles entering Ukraine. | |
The convoy is still awaiting permission to take its cargo to cities held by pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine which have been wracked by violence. | |
Red Cross officials are in the Ukrainian capital Kiev for talks on the convoy. | |
Ukraine, which fears the convoy may carry military supplies for the rebels, has threatened to block it unless it is independently checked. | |
Meanwhile, journalists from the Guardian and the Telegraph said a column of more than 20 armoured personnel carriers with soldiers on board had crossed the border. | |
Russia's government has consistently denied directly arming or training pro-Russian rebels, who sparked the conflict in April when they took control of several cities in eastern Ukraine. | Russia's government has consistently denied directly arming or training pro-Russian rebels, who sparked the conflict in April when they took control of several cities in eastern Ukraine. |
The conflict, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives, has intensified in recent weeks. | The conflict, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives, has intensified in recent weeks. |
On Thursday, there was heavy shelling in the rebel stronghold cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. | On Thursday, there was heavy shelling in the rebel stronghold cities of Donetsk and Luhansk. |
And the rebels announced that their main military commander Igor Girkin - known as Strelkov - had resigned. | And the rebels announced that their main military commander Igor Girkin - known as Strelkov - had resigned. |
'Strictly humanitarian' | 'Strictly humanitarian' |
The humanitarian convoy of at least 260 lorries drove for nine hours on Thursday before parking in a field near the border. | The humanitarian convoy of at least 260 lorries drove for nine hours on Thursday before parking in a field near the border. |
Russia dismissed as absurd claims that its convoy was a pretext to send military supplies to the rebels. | Russia dismissed as absurd claims that its convoy was a pretext to send military supplies to the rebels. |
Red Cross official Laurent Corbaz, in Kiev to discuss the convoy, said the Red Cross had a "strictly humanitarian role" and that "the delivery of aid should not be politicised". | Red Cross official Laurent Corbaz, in Kiev to discuss the convoy, said the Red Cross had a "strictly humanitarian role" and that "the delivery of aid should not be politicised". |
Red Cross spokeswoman Anastasia Isyuk said the convoy was "south of the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinski" and that the Red Cross had been in contact with the Russian representatives. | Red Cross spokeswoman Anastasia Isyuk said the convoy was "south of the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinski" and that the Red Cross had been in contact with the Russian representatives. |
She said there was still no agreement on the issues of border crossing procedures and customs clearance. | She said there was still no agreement on the issues of border crossing procedures and customs clearance. |
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who has been following the convoy, says the key question now is what Russia will do next - if it takes the convoy across the border, it will be seen by the Ukrainian authorities as a major provocation. | The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who has been following the convoy, says the key question now is what Russia will do next - if it takes the convoy across the border, it will be seen by the Ukrainian authorities as a major provocation. |
Ukraine is sending its own 75-lorry aid convoy to the east and Mr Corbaz said that too was being discussed in Kiev. | Ukraine is sending its own 75-lorry aid convoy to the east and Mr Corbaz said that too was being discussed in Kiev. |
The US has issued another warning to Russia. | The US has issued another warning to Russia. |
State department spokeswoman Marie Harf said: "We've made that very clear to the Russians that they should not move these trucks in, without taking all of the steps the Ukrainian government has outlined." | State department spokeswoman Marie Harf said: "We've made that very clear to the Russians that they should not move these trucks in, without taking all of the steps the Ukrainian government has outlined." |
Ceasefire call | Ceasefire call |
Heavy fighting continued on Thursday, with intense artillery shelling in both Luhansk and Donetsk. | Heavy fighting continued on Thursday, with intense artillery shelling in both Luhansk and Donetsk. |
Ukrainian authorities said they had cut off Luhansk from other rebel-held areas after capturing the town of Novosvitlivka. | Ukrainian authorities said they had cut off Luhansk from other rebel-held areas after capturing the town of Novosvitlivka. |
Ms Harf said the US had "stressed the importance of showing restraint to minimise casualties among the civilian population". | Ms Harf said the US had "stressed the importance of showing restraint to minimise casualties among the civilian population". |
The Russian foreign ministry on Thursday called for an "urgent" ceasefire. | The Russian foreign ministry on Thursday called for an "urgent" ceasefire. |
The loss of Strelkov, meanwhile, represents the third high-profile resignation of rebel leaders in the past week. | The loss of Strelkov, meanwhile, represents the third high-profile resignation of rebel leaders in the past week. |
Some 2,086 people have been killed since the conflict in the east began in mid-April, more than half of them in the past two weeks, the UN says. | Some 2,086 people have been killed since the conflict in the east began in mid-April, more than half of them in the past two weeks, the UN says. |
The violence began when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence. | The violence began when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence. |
The military launched an operation to retake the east, and stepped up its activities in June. | The military launched an operation to retake the east, and stepped up its activities in June. |
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday visited Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March in a move that drew international condemnation. | Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday visited Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in March in a move that drew international condemnation. |
Mr Putin said Russia's goal was "to stop bloodshed in Ukraine as soon as possible". | Mr Putin said Russia's goal was "to stop bloodshed in Ukraine as soon as possible". |
He said Russia should not "fence itself off from the outside world" although he said Russia would "not allow anyone to treat us with arrogance". | He said Russia should not "fence itself off from the outside world" although he said Russia would "not allow anyone to treat us with arrogance". |
On Thursday it emerged that Russia's largest oil company, Rosneft, had asked the Russian government for more than $40bn (£24bn) in order to help it weather the impact of Western sanctions. | |
Are you in the region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine crisis' in the subject heading and including your contact details. | Are you in the region? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk adding 'Ukraine crisis' in the subject heading and including your contact details. |