This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28817347
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ukraine crisis: Rebel leader says Russian arms on way | Ukraine crisis: Rebel leader says Russian arms on way |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A rebel leader in eastern Ukraine has said a convoy of military hardware is on its way to the region from Russia. | A rebel leader in eastern Ukraine has said a convoy of military hardware is on its way to the region from Russia. |
Alexander Zakharchenko, self-proclaimed PM of the Donetsk rebel area, said on Friday 150 vehicles and 1,200 personnel were approaching their border. | |
Russia has denied claims by Ukraine and Western reporters that military aid to the rebels is crossing over. | Russia has denied claims by Ukraine and Western reporters that military aid to the rebels is crossing over. |
Meanwhile a controversial humanitarian aid convoy from Russia is stalled on the Russian side of the border. | Meanwhile a controversial humanitarian aid convoy from Russia is stalled on the Russian side of the border. |
The convoy is apparently awaiting inspection by Ukrainian border guards, as Russia, Ukraine and the Red Cross decide how the aid will be delivered. | The convoy is apparently awaiting inspection by Ukrainian border guards, as Russia, Ukraine and the Red Cross decide how the aid will be delivered. |
On Friday Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu assured his US counterpart Chuck Hagel that there were no Russian military personnel involved with the convoy, nor would it be used as a pretext for further intervention. | On Friday Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu assured his US counterpart Chuck Hagel that there were no Russian military personnel involved with the convoy, nor would it be used as a pretext for further intervention. |
Journalists inspected some of the vehicles on Friday. | Journalists inspected some of the vehicles on Friday. |
'Good news' | 'Good news' |
Mr Zakharchenko, who became self-declared prime minister of the "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR) last week, is seen on a video posted on YouTube addressing the region's self-styled parliament. | Mr Zakharchenko, who became self-declared prime minister of the "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR) last week, is seen on a video posted on YouTube addressing the region's self-styled parliament. |
"I'd like to give you some good news," he says. "At present, moving towards the corridor [a link across the border into Russia established by the rebels] are... 150 items of military hardware, 30 of which are tanks and the rest are infantry fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers." | "I'd like to give you some good news," he says. "At present, moving towards the corridor [a link across the border into Russia established by the rebels] are... 150 items of military hardware, 30 of which are tanks and the rest are infantry fighting vehicles and armoured personnel carriers." |
He added that the vehicles were accompanied by 1,200 personnel who had received four months' training in Russia. | He added that the vehicles were accompanied by 1,200 personnel who had received four months' training in Russia. |
The announcement came a day after Ukraine said it had partially destroyed an armoured column that had crossed from Russia overnight on Thursday. | The announcement came a day after Ukraine said it had partially destroyed an armoured column that had crossed from Russia overnight on Thursday. |
The alleged incursion was witnessed by two UK newspaper reporters. | The alleged incursion was witnessed by two UK newspaper reporters. |
Russia's defence ministry said the incursion reports were "some kind of fantasy", and Moscow has consistently denied directly arming or training the rebels. | Russia's defence ministry said the incursion reports were "some kind of fantasy", and Moscow has consistently denied directly arming or training the rebels. |
But the incident prompted a flurry of Western condemnation. | But the incident prompted a flurry of Western condemnation. |
"Any unilateral military actions on the part of the Russian Federation in Ukraine under any pretext, including humanitarian, will be considered by the European Union as a blatant violation of international law," a statement by EU foreign ministers issued on Friday says. | "Any unilateral military actions on the part of the Russian Federation in Ukraine under any pretext, including humanitarian, will be considered by the European Union as a blatant violation of international law," a statement by EU foreign ministers issued on Friday says. |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Friday to "put an end to the flow of military goods, military advisers and armed personnel over the border". | German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Friday to "put an end to the flow of military goods, military advisers and armed personnel over the border". |
The conflict in Ukraine's east, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives, has intensified in recent weeks. | The conflict in Ukraine's east, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives, has intensified in recent weeks. |
The violence began in April when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence. | The violence began in April when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence. |
The Ukrainian military launched an operation to retake the region and stepped up its activities in June. | The Ukrainian military launched an operation to retake the region and stepped up its activities in June. |