The Guardian's Moscow Correspondent Shaun Walker and the Telegraph's Roland Oliphant tweeted today that a column of armored personnel carriers (ACPs) and other Russian military vehicles have crossed over the Ukrainian border.
So @RolandOliphant and I just saw a column of APCs and vehicles with official Russian military plates cross border into Ukraine.
- Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 14, 2014
Erm ok so this isn't humanitarian aid. Column of over 20 APCs, 10km from the Ukraine border, and heading closer pic.twitter.com/OMvJmHzsx1
- Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 14, 2014
Vladimir Putin's government is sending a convoy of unmarked white trucks to Ukraine, and military vehicles had started traveling alongside a supposed Russian aid convoy earlier today.
Most of the fleet of more than 262 vehicles, including about 200 trucks carrying aid, stopped 15 miles from the border of Ukraine's rebel-held eastern region of Luhansk.
If these reports are correct, a separate military convoy has apparently continued into Ukraine.
To clarify. APC column separate to humanitarian convoy, which has halted. Is moving V close to border. But not size of proper invasion force
- Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 14, 2014
Didn't even turn off their headlights. Saw Russian military plates on support vehicles, but no markings I could make out on APCs.
- Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) August 14, 2014
Walker does not believe that the APCs constitute an invasion force. Instead, this movement of Russian forces into Ukraine is likely a continuation of an ongoing Russian policy along the border, where Moscow has constantly pushed the limits of Ukrainian sovereignty in its attempts to aid pro-Russian separatists inside the country.
NB I don't think this was "the invasion" proper. This is probably what has been happening for a while. Extraordinary to see it though.
- Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 14, 2014
Russia has continued to increase its military presence along the Ukrainian border despite
More to come.