RIA Novosti: Kiev Claims to Observe Movement of Military Equipment, Troops From Russia to Donbas

KIEV, November 2 (RIA Novosti) – Kiev has claimed to observe movement of military equipment and troops from Russia to the Donbas region, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council’s spokesperson Andriy Lysenko said in a statement Sunday, but failed to provide evidence.

“The intensive movement of military equipment and troops from the territory of the Russian Federation to the territory temporarily controlled by militia [Donbas region] continues,” Lysenko said.

Nevertheless, no evidence was provided by the spokesperson.

It is not the first time when the Ukrainian authorities claimed Russia was sending military equipment and troops to the Donbas region without providing evidence.

Russia repeatedly denied the accusations, stating it is not a party to the Ukrainian domestic conflict.

Following the February coup in Kiev, residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine established so-called people’s republics and later declared independence. The crisis escalated in mid-April, when Kiev authorities launched a military operation against the independence supporters.

The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) are conducting elections of their regional leaders and legislative bodies on November 2.