Kiev Says Russian Army Convoy in East Ukraine
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A massive convoy of Russian tanks and heavy weapons have crossed into Ukraine, travelling towards a government-held town in the restive east, Ukraine's army has said.
A statement published by the military on Wednesday said a convoy of "up to 100" tanks, armored vehicles and rocket launchers was seen travelling on a road toward Telmanove, a town about 80 km south of rebel stronghold Donetsk and 20 km from the Russian border.
The army did not give details about the personnel on board the vehicles or when the column is thought to have entered Ukraine.
"We believe that this is Russian equipment. You cannot buy 100 tanks at a market in Donetsk or Luhansk," a source told the AFP news agency. "Of course they have been moved from across the border."
On Wednesday, AFP journalists travelling on the same road heading south to Telmanove said they saw traces of tank tracks and heard explosions.
The Ukrainian military also said that a smaller group of vehicles had crossed the border from Russia about 110 km east of Donetsk and travelled on to the rebel stronghold.
The convoy included "six Grad rocket launchers, eight covered Kamaz (trucks) and two Ural trucks with manpower," the statement said.
Meanwhile, pro-Russia rebels launched at least 10 shells at the government-held town of Novoazovsk in southeastern Ukraine on Wednesday in response to outgoing fire earlier.