Nato says Russia sending columns of troops and weapons into Ukraine
General warns that columns of soldiers and weapons had crossed border
Nato has accused Russia of sending troops and weapons into eastern Ukraine, as Ukrainian officials announced that they are bracing for a return to hostilities in the eastern part of the country.
US General Philip Breedlove, Nato's top commander, said the Western alliance had observed "columns of Russian equipment, primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air-defence systems and Russian combat troops, entering into Ukraine" over the past few days.
"There is no question any more about Russia's direct military involvement in Ukraine," Breedlove said, adding that Nato had observed "multiple columns" moving into Ukraine, but did not cite a figure.
General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry, swiftly dismissed the accusations as "hot air", arguing that there are "no facts" to support "the supposed presence of Russian armed forces in Ukraine."
But Breedlove's charges are only the latest alarm bell Nato and its allies have sounded in recent days warning of Russian military activity along and across the Ukrainian border.