Special to WorldTribune.com
Russia’s stealth military buildup near the border with Ukraine is evidence that President Vladimir Putin has ordered “direct military intervention” and is lying about it, a Washington-based think tank said on May 28 according to Radio Free Europe.
The Atlantic Council’s report, titled “Hiding In Plain Sight: Putin’s War in Ukraine,” said the Russian president used the February cease-fire to reinforce rebel forces supported by Moscow so that they could “prepare for the next stage of fighting.”
The report said “the Kremlin is building its case that forces engaged in any future outbreaks of fighting are indigenous, legitimate Ukrainian forces rather than Moscow’s creation.”
Along with troops, Russia has sent hundreds of heavy weapons to a makeshift base near the Ukrainian border, according to a Reuters report. The weaponry includes mobile rocket launchers, tanks and artillery.
Reuters reported that vehicles at the site have had identifying marks removed and soldiers had taken insignias off their uniforms, which Kiev and Western allies have said is done so that Russian forces will match the appearance of rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Asked by Reuters if the buildup and unmarked arms indicated a planned invasion of Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a conference call with reporters: “I find the wording of this question, ‘if an invasion is being prepared’, inappropriate as such.”
The Atlantic Council said its research shows “irrefutable evidence” that what is occurring in Ukraine is “a Kremlin-manufactured war — fueled by Russian-made military equipment, fought by Russian soldiers, and supported by Mr. Putin.”
Moscow insists that any Russians fighting in eastern Ukraine are there on their own volition, and that heavy weaponry used by the pro-Russian separatists was seized from Ukraine’s military.
But the Atlantic Council’s report said that much of the Russian-built weaponry and ammunition used by separatists have never been used by Ukrainian government forces, including the T-72B3 tank (not in service in Russia until 2013), the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft vehicle and 2B26 Grad missile launchers mounted on Kamaz trucks.
Report: Putin sends unmarked heavy weapons to Ukraine for ‘Kremlin-manufactured war’ added by World Tribune on
View all posts by World Tribune →
You must be logged in to post a comment Login