Russian troops reported on the move
Published:Sunday | March 9, 2014 | 12:00 AM
SEVASTOPOL (AP):
Russia was yesterday reported to be reinforcing its military presence in Crimea as Moscow's foreign minister ruled out any dialogue with Ukraine's new authorities, whom he dismissed as puppets.
Vladislav Seleznyov, a Crimea-based spokesman for the Ukrainian armed forces, told The Associated Press that witnesses had reported seeing amphibious military ships unloading around 200 military vehicles in eastern Crimea last Friday night after apparently having crossed the Straits of Kerch, which separates Crimea from Russian territory.
He also said a convoy of more than 60 military trucks bearing no licence plate numbers was headed from the eastern city of Feodosia towards the city of Simferopol, the regional capital.
LARGE MOVEMENT
The amphibious operation appeared to be one of the largest movements of Russian military forces since they appeared in Crimea a week ago.
An AP reporter sighted the convoy yesterday afternoon. In the backs of the vehicles, heavily armed soldiers could be seen, though none appeared to have identifying badges or insignia. Soldiers spat at reporters following the convoy.
The Ukrainian military spokesman also said that in Simferopol, several dozen armed men yesterday broke into a military warehouse containing Ukrainian military goods.