Ukraine Crisis: Separatists Trained in Russia
KIEV (Worthy News)– One of the top rebel leaders in eastern Ukraine claims that his forces have recently received 1,200 fighters who had undergone training in Russia. The claim came during a speech to leading rebels, apparently recorded on Friday and posted to YouTube by a pro-separatist media outlet. His language suggested the men had already crossed the border, the UK Guardian reported.
Alexander Zakharchenko, prime minister of the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic, also spoke about 150 armoured vehicles, of which 30 are tanks and the rest wheeled or tracked armoured personnel carriers. He said the men and equipment had gathered in an area near a “corridor” to the Russian border, though he did not specify whether the vehicles themselves had crossed from Russia.
“There are 1,200 individuals who have gone through training over a four-month period on the territory of the Russian Federation and who have been introduced here at the most decisive moment,” said Zakharchenko. Many among the rebel fighters admit to being Russian volunteers or veterans who received training in the Rostov region before crossing the border. — Source
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Ukraine crisis: Rebel fighters ‘trained in Russia’ – BBC
The new rebel leader in east Ukraine’s Donetsk region has said his forces include 1,200 fighters who underwent military training in Russia.
Addressing a meeting, Alexander Zakharchenko said the fighters had trained “four months on the territory of the Russian Federation”.
The rebels, he said, had reserves of 150 combat vehicles, including tanks.
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