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-28924945
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Ukraine crisis: 'Column from Russia' moves on Mariupol | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Ukrainian military says it is battling rebel armoured vehicles that crossed from Russia and headed to the south-eastern city of Mariupol. | |
It said the column was halted near the town of Novoazovsk. | |
One military commander said pro-Russian rebels might be trying to open up a new southern front. | |
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he not heard the reports but complained of regular "disinformation about our 'incursions'". | |
He also said Russia planned to send another humanitarian convoy into eastern Ukraine "in the next few days" as the humanitarian situation there was "deteriorating". | |
Its first convoy, which returned at the weekend, crossed the border without Ukraine's authorisation. Ukraine feared the convoy was carrying military equipment to the pro-Russian separatists and denounced it as an invasion. | |
More than 2,000 people have died in recent months in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists. Some 330,00 people have been displaced. | More than 2,000 people have died in recent months in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and the separatists. Some 330,00 people have been displaced. |
The Russian and Ukrainian presidents are scheduled to meet in Minsk, Belarus, on Tuesday for talks on the crisis. | The Russian and Ukrainian presidents are scheduled to meet in Minsk, Belarus, on Tuesday for talks on the crisis. |
'Enough resources' | |
Ukraine's military said border guards had halted the column about 5km (3 miles) north-east of Novoazovsk, which is about 10km from the border in the far south-east of Ukraine. | |
Heavy clashes were reported at the village of Markyne. | |
One commander of a Ukrainian national guard unit in the area told Reuters news agency: "A war has broken out here." | |
Ukrainian sources said the armoured vehicles had crossed the border bearing symbols of the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic. Officials said 10 tanks and two armoured personnel carriers were in the column although other reports said the number of vehicles was as high as 30. | |
Mariupol, a major port on the Azov Sea, is in the hands of Ukrainian government forces, who ousted rebels from the city in June after weeks of fighting. | |
A Ukrainian military spokesman said government forces still controlled Mariupol and the road to Novoazovsk. | |
Spokesman Andriy Lysenko said it was an attempt "by the Russian military in the guise of Donbass fighters (rebels) to open a new area of military confrontation". But there were enough resources to repel any attack, he added. | |
When asked about the column, Mr Lavrov said: "I have not heard of this, but there is plenty of disinformation out there about our 'incursions'." | |
Ukraine and Western powers have accused Russia of arming the rebels, charges Moscow has denied. | |
There have been several previous reports of armoured vehicles crossing Ukraine's eastern border. | |
'Fascists' | |
Mr Lavrov said he had also sent a note to the Ukrainian foreign ministry on Sunday informing it of the new convoy. | |
He told a news conference on Monday: "The humanitarian situation is not improving but deteriorating. | He told a news conference on Monday: "The humanitarian situation is not improving but deteriorating. |
"We want to reach an agreement on all conditions for delivering a second convoy by the same route... in the coming days." | "We want to reach an agreement on all conditions for delivering a second convoy by the same route... in the coming days." |
Russia said the first convoy had delivered generators, food and drink. | Russia said the first convoy had delivered generators, food and drink. |
Asked about Tuesday's presidential meeting, Mr Lavrov said: "We are ready... for any format as long as there is a result," adding that Russia wanted "to help Ukrainians agree among themselves". | Asked about Tuesday's presidential meeting, Mr Lavrov said: "We are ready... for any format as long as there is a result," adding that Russia wanted "to help Ukrainians agree among themselves". |
Mr Lavrov also commented on the parading of captured Ukrainian government soldiers by rebels through the centre of Donetsk on Sunday. | Mr Lavrov also commented on the parading of captured Ukrainian government soldiers by rebels through the centre of Donetsk on Sunday. |
Crowds lined the streets chanting "fascists" as the dishevelled-looking prisoners walked by. | Crowds lined the streets chanting "fascists" as the dishevelled-looking prisoners walked by. |
Mr Lavrov said this was "nowhere near mistreatment" and that Ukrainian fighters' actions often amounted to "war crimes". | Mr Lavrov said this was "nowhere near mistreatment" and that Ukrainian fighters' actions often amounted to "war crimes". |
"I saw images of that parade and I didn't see anything close to what could be considered as humiliating," he said. | "I saw images of that parade and I didn't see anything close to what could be considered as humiliating," he said. |
The violence in east Ukraine erupted in April when pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence from Kiev. This followed Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. | The violence in east Ukraine erupted in April when pro-Russian separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared independence from Kiev. This followed Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in March. |