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Ukraine’s military is preparing to repel a possible assault by Russian-backed rebels in the east following reports of Russian military reinforcements crossing the border.
Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said Monday in an interview with the daily German daily Bild that the country is ready for total war.
Nato officials have seen Russian military equipment and Russian combat troops entering Ukraine this week, its top commander says.
“Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defence systems and Russian combat troops” were sighted, US Gen Philip Breedlove said.
Intense artillery fighting has broken out in the separatist bastion of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, according to AFP journalists in the area.
Firing close to the town centre began at 2:00am (local time) and could still be heard at the same intensity two hours later.
The press center for the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine has said that the troops defending the Donetsk airport have eliminated about 200 militants in the past 24 hours.
Amid a crumbling peace plan in Ukraine, NATO has reported Russian troop movement near the Ukrainian border. Meanwhile, Kyiv has vowed to protect eastern cities from the rebels trying to exert power over the region.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko convened the Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council on Tuesday evening in reaction to the ballot held over the weekend by separatist leaders in eastern Ukraine.