U.S. Intelligence: Russian tanks “sent from Russia to Ukraine”

During the U.S. State Department’s press briefing, deputy spokesperson Marie Harf dismissed earlier reports that insurgent-piloted tanks in the Donetsk region were of Ukrainian military origin. Rather, she elaborated that intelligence has provided convincing evidence that Donetsk militants acquired heavy weapons and military equipment from Russia, including Russian tanks.

“They were somehow pulled out of the Russian warehouses, someone taught them how to use them, and they were sent from Russia to Ukraine,” Harf flatly explained.

Militants had thus far admitted they acquired the units “from a military warehouse” but without elaborating further. Unlike past acquisitions of weaponized vehicles which have been readily shown off to news agencies and crowds alike, these militants instead shied away from any bravado, anxiously warning Reuters journalists against capturing any photography of the acquired tanks.

A column of tanks with Russian flags has arrived in Donetsk

TV Channel 1+1, TSN Night

Military vehicles seen in the towns of Snizhne, Horlivka, Sloviansk, Makiyivka, and Tores in the Donetsk region.

As broadcast by Ukrainian TV Channel 1+1 during the nightly news program TSN Night, Russian tanks have invaded Eastern Ukraine. Movement of military vehicles was witnessed in several towns in the Donetsk region. Tanks with the tricolor Russian flag were seen in Snizhne, Horlivka, Sloviansk, Makiyivka, and Tores. Witnesses reported that the heavy military equipment and vehicles with Russian flags have already reached Donetsk. In addition, according to intelligence data, more powerful force has been concentrated on Russian territory in close proximity to the border with Ukraine. One reported a minimum of two mechanized brigades which have armored vehicles and multiple GRAD rocket launcher systems.

Russian Tanks Cross Ukrainian Border

by Vitalii Usenko and Mat Babiak

As reported by witnesses to InfoResist, two new tanks with a complete set of armaments arrived in the Varna district of the town of Snizhne, Donetsk region, Ukraine. Local residents identified that the crew is from Russia. Details have yet to be specified.

As previously reported by InfoResist, the recruitment of airplane and helicopters pilots and tank crews for T-72 tanks is being conducted through the internet. The T-72 tanks are produced by Uralvagonzavod, Nizhniy Tagil, Sverdlovsk region, Russia and are used in the Russian army; Ukraine does not produce or use this model of tanks. In addition to this, the so-called “army of the south-east” is recruiting operators for grenade launchers and flamethrowers, as well as operators of anti-tank rocket complexes, mobile air defense complexes, anti-aircraft rocket complexes, and AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers.