Russia continues to strengthen its military presence in Crimea 0903141

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Defence & Security News - Ukraine
 
 
Sunday, March 9, 2014 11:34 AM
 
Russia continues to strengthen its military presence in Crimea.
According to Reuters, dozens of military trucks transporting heavily armed soldiers rumbled over Crimea's rutted roads Saturday, March 8, 2014, as Russia reinforced its armed presence on the disputed peninsula in the Black Sea. The convoy was accompanied by eight armoured vehicles, two ambulances, military kitchen truck, petrol tankers and other hardware.
     
According to Reuters, dozens of military trucks transporting heavily armed soldiers rumbled over Crimea's rutted roads Saturday, March 8, 2014, as Russia reinforced its armed presence on the disputed peninsula in the Black Sea. The convoy was accompanied by eight armoured vehicles, two ambulances, military kitchen truck, petrol tankers and other hardware.
March 8 , photos were distributed showing the latest military convoy reinforcements heading into the Crimea, accompanies by a Police car demonstrating Moscow license plate numbers, most likely providing further support to the pro-Russian forces in the peninsula.
     

The Russians have denied their armed forces are active in Crimea, but an Associated Press reporter trailed one military convoy Saturday afternoon from (40 kilometers west of Feodosia to a military airfield at Gvardeiskoe north of Simferopol, over which a Russian flag flew.

Vladislav Seleznyov, a Crimean-based spokesman for the Ukrainian armed forces, told AP that witnesses had reported seeing amphibious military ships unloading around 200 military vehicles in eastern Crimea on Friday night after apparently having crossed the Straits of Kerch, which separates Crimea from Russian territory.

"Neither the equipment, nor the paratroopers have insignia that identify them as Russian, but we have no doubt as to their allegiance," Seleznyov said.

The amphibious operation appeared to be one of the largest movements of Russian military forces since they appeared in Crimea a week ago.

Earlier this week Ukraine said there were a total of 16,000 Russian troops in Crimea.

Russia, whose forces occupied the isolated peninsula last week, says the only troops it has there are those based in Sevastopol. The Russian troops that have occupied positions across Crimea wear no insignia on their uniforms but drive vehicles with Russian military plates.