Ukrainian border guards announce retreat after being attacked by Russian tanks

On August 28, Ukrainian Security Council spokesman Colonel Andriy Lysenko said two tank columns from Russia had entered a strategic Ukrainian town.

According to Colonel Lysenko, the Ukrainian forces were attacked by Grad rocket systems fired from Russian territory at around 11 a.m. and about an hour and a half later, two convoys - including tanks and other combat vehicles - also began attacking. These vehicles then entered Ukraine from Veselo-Voznesenka and Maximovo, in Russia's Rostov region.

Dnipro volunteer unit of the Ukrainian government army in Novoazovsk city, Donetsk region. (Photo:AFP)

Ukrainian border guards said they had to retreat because they lacked heavy equipment.

Earlier the same day, according to AFP, the Ukrainian Security Council said that the country's border guards clashed with a reconnaissance group that entered Ukrainian territory from the Crimean peninsula.

Kiev said fighting broke out on August 27 in Ukraine's Kherson region, north of Crimea, and accused Russian troops of setting up positions near the peninsula.

Ukraine fears Moscow may be planning attacks from the Black Sea peninsula, after Kiev accused Russian troops of occupying a 450km stretch of territory along the eastern Ukrainian border.

According to VNA