Russia claimed it destroyed two Ukrainian military vehicles violating its territory, killing five soldiers, in an unconfirmed incident that would be the first direct clash with Ukrainian forces since Moscow mobilised 190,000 troops on its border.
Russian officials say Russian troops and border guards have prevented “Ukrainian saboteurs” from crossing the border, according to Russian media quoted by Reuters.
Ukrainian vehicles were destroyed in the Rostov region of Russia, according to these reports.
According to the Russian news agency Interfax, the incident took place around 6:00 in the morning, Moscow time, in the Rostov region near the Russian-Ukrainian border.
FSB border guards spotted an alleged “sabotage team” by the Ukrainian army and sought help from Russia’s southern military district.
A Russian army unit destroyed two Ukrainian army vehicles that allegedly crossed the border with anti-tank fire, according to Interfax. The Ukrainian military has called Russian allegations of a failed attempt to cross the border “false.”
Ukraine stressed that Russia’s reports are incorrect as there are no Ukrainian forces in the Rostov region, where, according to Moscow, the incident took place.
Meanwhile, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, Dennis Pushilin, announced a general mobilisation, describing the situation as “very critical”. “We are receiving more massive attacks than ever,” he said.
Eduard Basurin, Donetsk’s defence spokesman, said in an interview with a Russian YouTube channel that Moscow should provide moral support “first and foremost,” but added: “We will not refuse military assistance, which is also needed in various forms.”
He claimed that there was a “war” in the Donbas region, adding: “The situation is not just difficult, it is critical.”
As the situation in the Ukrainian crisis escalates, Russian stocks are falling 8-10%. The Russian ruble is also on a downward trajectory against the dollar.
Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region have accused Kyiv of launching an offensive to retake the breakaway territories on the Russian border, where more than 14,000 people have died since Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
Ukraine says Russia is trying to use the claims as a pretext for a renewed invasion of the country.
In the main European stock exchanges, in Germany, France, and Italy shares fall by more than 2%. In London, the stock market is losing 0.79%. The Athens Stock Exchange also went into negative territory, with the General Index falling by 0.67%.