According to the US State Department, Russia has sent tanks, heavy weapons and rocket launchers into Ukraine over the past days, in order to support pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, confirming statements recently provided by Ukrainian media sources. The State Department said there was video proof.
“We assess that separatists in eastern Ukraine have acquired heavy weapons and military equipment from Russia, including Russian tanks and multiple rocket launchers,” said US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf in a statement Friday.
Three T-64 tanks, several MB-21 “or Grad” multiple rocket launchers, as well as military vehicles crossed into Ukraine from Russia in recent days, Harf said.
Harf said the tanks are a type that Russian forces no longer use and predicted that Moscow would claim the tanks were taken from Ukrainian forces.
Hraf’s statement referred to the type of tanks–ones Russian no longer used–and said, “Russia will claim these tanks were taken from Ukrainian forces, but no Ukrainian tank units have been operating in that area,” said the State Department. “We are confident that these tanks came from Russia.”
“We also have information that Russia has accumulated multiple rocket launchers at this same deployment site in southwest Russia, and these rocket launchers also recently departed,” went the State Department statement. “Internet video has shown what we believe to be these same rocket launchers traveling through Luhansk.”
Hraf stated, “This is unacceptable. A failure by Russia to de-escalate this situation will lead to additional costs.”
By Day Blakely Donaldson
IIP