Ukraine: No movement of Russian forces on the border

Ukraine today denied reports of renewed Russian troop movements near its borders. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that “no additional concentration” of Russian forces was observed near the border. The Kremlin had earlier said in a related report in the Washington Post and in videos circulating online that “no time should be wasted” on “inferior” allegations.

The Washington Post reported that US officials are concerned about the movements of Russian military units near the border with Ukraine. Videos circulating online showed military trains and truck convoys laden with tanks and missiles in southwestern Russia.

“Psychological procedures”

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US Department of Defense is investigating the reports. The Pentagon is closely following developments in the region. Yesterday evening, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that the published videos could be “the subject of special media and psychological measures.” They showed the planned movement of troops after a Russian military exercise.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not openly deny the alleged troop movements: “The transfer of our military equipment and units is our business exclusively.” In March, Russia had thousands of soldiers, heavy military equipment, naval ships and Air Force planes near the Ukrainian border and from Russia the Crimea was annexed. Troop movements fueled fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.