NATO accuses Russia of transferring troops and weapons to Ukraine

Russian tanks, artillery, air defense systems and combat troops are moving into Ukraine - that's what NATO's top commander, General Philip Breedlove, has just confirmed.

A column of unmarked tanks near the breakaway town of Shakhtarsk on November 10. (Photo: Getty)

Meanwhile, the monitoring mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) warned of a "real risk" of further escalation in the conflict that has already claimed the lives of more than 4,000 people in Ukraine.

On November 12, artillery shells continued to rock the rebel stronghold of Donetsk. Fighting was also reported to have resumed near the city of Luhansk, with one Ukrainian soldier killed and another wounded.

Ukraine's defense minister says government troops are redeploying in preparation for a possible attack by pro-Russian separatists.

The OSCE reported that they had seen unmarked convoys in the area in recent days. This was confirmed by US General Breedlove, who specifically stated that they were "Russian tanks, Russian artillery, air defense systems and Russian combat troops".

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Bulgaria, Breedlove said the Russian troop deployment could be aimed at reinforcing “groups” under separatist control in eastern Ukraine. The general did not specify how many Russian troops, vehicles or weapons were seen.

"Strange" armed men and vehicles appeared near a checkpoint in Donetsk. (Photo: Reuters)

In a separate statement, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said any significant military buildup would be a "serious threat to the ceasefire" reached by Kiev and separatists in the Belarusian capital Minsk on September 5.

However, Russia once again denied sending military equipment and soldiers to Ukraine. Major General Igor Konashenkov affirmed that "neither then nor now there is evidence for General Breedlove's statements".

In another development, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that the country's long-range aircraft will conduct patrols over the Arctic Ocean to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. He explained that the current situation requires Moscow to restart such patrols, which were discontinued at the end of the Cold War.

According to vietnamnet