US Accuses Russia Of Sending 10 Tanks Into Ukraine; Russia Responds Merely "Enhancing Border Security"

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 06/20/2014 11:11 -0400

US officials are "readying targeted sanctions on finance, defense, and tech sectors," as they tell Bloomberg that 10 Russian tanks crossed the border into Ukraine in the last 24 hours. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official noted that EU-US discussions on Ukraine are intensifying. Russia has responded, "we are surprised by statements of alleged deployment of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine. In this case, there is no military buildup, there are only measures to strengthen the border security of the Russian Federation, measures taken on direct instructions from Russian president." This is all occurring with the background of Poroshenko's cease-fire plan.

Via Bloomberg:

  • *U.S. SEES RUSSIA GIVING NEW MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE SEPARATISTS
  • *U.S. OFFICIAL SAYS RUSSIA REDEPLOYING FORCES NEAR UKRAINE
  • *U.S. OFFICIAL SAYS 10 RUSSIAN TANKS CROSSED BORDER IN 24 HOURS
  • *U.S. OFFICIAL BRIEFS REPORTER ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY
  • *U.S.-EU DISCUSSIONS ON UKRAINE INTENSIFYING: U.S. OFFICIAL
  • *SANCTIONS BEING READIED ON FINANCE, DEFENSE, TECH: US SAYS


The US official's comments appear to reflect Ukraine Pravda...


"We have had operational reports that 10 Grad BM-21 military vehicles have crossed the Ukrainian state border and are in Ukrainian territory", said Koval.

According to him, one vehicle has been caught and destroyed.

The Ukrainian military have found evidence that it belongs to the Russian army.
And of course, the US has its YouTube clips...
As Interpretermag reports, a closer inspection of a video of Russian armoured vehicles being transported near the border at Millerovo yesterday shows that a number of the vehicles are unmarked, like those seen in eastern Ukraine.





But Russia is denying the intrusion...


Moscow is surprised by allegations of a buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine, saying it is only taking measures backed by European leaders to better protect its border, a Kremlin spokesman said Friday.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Russia had to tighten security at the Ukrainian border "because it is being increasingly violated, including by military vehicles."

"We are surprised by statements of alleged deployment of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine. In this case, there is no military buildup, there are only measures to strengthen the border security of the Russian Federation, measures taken on direct instructions from Russian president," Peskov said.

"[The instructions] were given several weeks ago, and they were made public and received a positive response from European leaders," the spokesman added.

“As for the troop numbers, this is defined by the need to ensure the due level of border security,” Peskov said.
While markets appear to have shrugged off any and every potential WWIII related geopolitcs, the Ukraine tensions are re-building and if the US does sectoral sanctions, we can only imagine the 'boomerang' that Russia will throw.


http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-0...ncing-border-s