UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: RUSSIAN TROOPS ARE ADVANCING IN UKRAINE
"I have made a decision to cancel my working visit to the Republic of Turkey due to sharp aggravation of the situation in Donetsk region, particularly in Amvrosiivka and Starobeshevo, as Russian troops were brought into Ukraine," the President noted.
Russian troops are leading a separatist counteroffensive in the east, bringing in tanks and using artillery from inside Ukrainian territory. A rebel commander admitted that at least 3,000-4,000 Russian troops are fighting inside Ukraine.
"Current servicemen are also fighting in our ranks, as they came to us to struggle for our freedom instead of their vacations," Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Alexander Zakharchenko told Russian media. "This is characteristic only for Russians."
Google Maps
Amvrosiivka and Starobeshevo are on the road to Crimea, which Russia annexed with special forces troops in March.
The fear is that Russia is attempting to create a land link between Russia and the strategic peninsula.
Ukrainian Prime Minister has called for an emergency UN security council meeting to deal with the issue of Russian troops in Ukraine, although Russia sits on the council and could veto any proposal that arose.
REUTERS
Here's a look by province, and what else Russia would have to annex to create the land bridge:
REUTERS
And here's the fighting acording to Ukraine's military:
NSDC
More to come.