• published: 16 Apr 2014
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Tanks bearing Russian flag roll into eastern Ukraine as Vladimir Putin warns that country is on the brink of civil war Six armoured personnel carriers move into pro-Russian-held Slavyansk bearing the flag of the Russian Federation Soldier aboard one claims they are from a Ukrainian airborne unit which has defected to the pro-Russian insurgency Ukrainian army APCs roll into Kramatorsk, which was on Saturday scene of fierce fighting between police and militants Forces loyal to Kiev retook an airfield held by separatists just outside that town in an airborne assault last night Russian President Vladimir Putin tells German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Ukraine is on the brink of civil war He denied any involvement of Russian troops, but Kiev names a Russian regiment it claims is active in east Ukraine Nato announces it is stepping up deployments in eastern Europe in response to the crisis Armoured personnel carriers occupied by pro-Russian insurgents and flying Russian flags today entered a rebel-held city in east Ukraine. Six armoured troop carriers entered the flashpoint town of Slavyansk on Wednesday carrying the Russian national flag and the banner of pro-Russian separatists, an eyewitness said. They appeared as troops loyal to the interim government in Kiev drove seven armoured personnel carriers flying the Ukrainian flag into the town of Kramatorsk, just six miles to the south. Meanwhile, it was claimed this afternoon that pro-Russian militias have taken two Ukrainian soldiers hostage near the town of Krasnyi Luch in Lugansk province, in the latest escalation of hostilities that Russia is warning could lead to civil war. In Slavyansk troops atop the arriving armoured vehicles wore green camouflage uniforms and carried automatic weapons and grenade launchers. At least one had the St George ribbon attached to his uniform. The ribbon has become a symbol of the pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine. It appeared that at least three of the APCs arriving in the flashpoint city under Russian flags had earlier in the day been under Ukrainian command. One soldier, who identified himself only as Andrei, said the unit was part of Ukraine's 25th paratrooper division from Dnipropetrovsk and that they have switched to the side of the pro-Russian forces. He said: 'All the soldiers and the officers are here. We are all boys who won't shoot our own people.' The armed men waved as they drove in from the direction of Kramatorsk. They were enthusiastically met by separatists manning road blocks with some people waving back and shouting: 'Well done lads!' and 'Russia' Russia!' Overhead, a Ukrainian jet fighter carried out several minutes of aerobatics above the town's main square in a clear show of strength by Kiev's forces. In the industrial city of Donetsk, at least 20 heavily armed separatists occupied the city council building, a spokeswoman for the council said. It is understood that they are demanding a referendum on turning Ukraine into a federation with massive powers devolved to its regions. In Kramatorsk, civilian protesters briefly blocked the entry of Ukrainian army APCs, standing in front of the vehicles as they tried to make their way into town, which had been held by pro-Russian militants. Soldiers dismounted and pushed them away, firing one shot in the air during a brief scuffle before the vehicles moved on, a witness told Reuters. The protesters managed to take away one hand-held radio and two rifle magazines from soldiers. The Ukrainian government finally launched what it called an 'anti-terrorism operation' against separatists in east Ukraine last night, more than 48 hours after a deadline ordering militants to lay down their weapons. Initial reports had claimed that up to 11 people were killed when forces loyal to Kiev launched an airborne assault on a small airfield near Kramatorsk, although these proved later to be an exaggeration. The airborne attack by troops from the Ukrainian interior ministry's elite Omega unit came as up to 500 soldiers launched a simultaneous ground assault on the airfield, which had been held by pro-Russian separatists. Prior to the attack, Reuters and Associated Press reporters near the scene had heard heavy gunfire which had apparently prevented an air force plane from landing. Russia's President Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a telephone call late last night that Kiev had 'embarked on an anti-constitutional course' by using the army against the rebels. 'The sharp escalation of the conflict puts the country, in effect, on the brink of civil war,' a Kremlin statement quoted him as saying. But the pro-West interim government in Kiev accused Moscow of lying by denying that its troops are operating on Ukrainian territory. Deputy prime minister Vitaliy Yarema alleged that the 45th Guards Regiment of Airborne Troops - headquartered near Moscow - is playing a key role in fomenting the disturbances in Slavyansk and other eastern cities.