Bloomberg reports,
NATO estimates there are currently 20,000 Russian troops in the border region to Ukraine, says a North Atlantic Treaty Organization military officer speaking to reporters today on condition of anonymity at supreme headquarters in Mons, Belgium.
Well over 1,000 Russian troops now operating inside Ukraine: officer
Russian troops in Ukraine operating advanced equipment, serving as advisers for separatists: officer
As a result of Ukraine becoming more effective militarily starting in July, there has been a real upsurge in Russian activities of late. Cross border support, firing of rockets and artillery shells across border, supply of more weapons: officer
Russia has effectively created second front in the south, this is an extremely effective way to take pressure off separatists: officer
Puts Ukraine forces in “dire situation” since from south Russian forces can move up to link with Donetsk forces or can even move west toward Crimea: officer
Opening of second front in south is “extremely worrying”for Ukraine’s position; there’s a risk that Ukraine military’s supply lies will be cut: officer
Officer declines to call Russian moves in Ukraine an “invasion,” instead repeatedly uses the term “incursion”
Further,
- *NATO OFFICER: RUSSIA SEEKS TO TAKE PRESSURE OFF REBEL FORCES
- *NATO OFFICER: RUSSIAN TROOPS IN UKRAINE MANNING ADVANCED ARMS
Russia is more openly backing the Ukrainian rebels, now with small Russian military formations moving into Ukraine’s territory, senior NATO diplomat says.
Russia has provided artillery and rocket support for rebels, from positions both in Russia and inside Ukraine, diplomat says
SA-22 surface-to-air missiles are now being deployed, more sophisticated than the SA-11 missiles that downed the Malaysian airliner, diplomat says
Russian support has become more overt in the wake of Kiev government’s successes against the rebels near Luhansk and Donetsk, diplomat says
- *NATO OFFICER: RUSSIAN TROOPS IN UKRAINE SERVING AS ADVISERS (just like the humanitarian Americans in Iraq?)
