U.S. releases satellite images showing artillery and air defense systems sent by Russia in Ukraine

 
Defense & Security News - United States / Ukraine
 
 
U.S. releases satellite images showing artillery and air defense systems sent by Russia in Ukraine.
The United States government released Saturday, February 14, 2015, satellite images that, it said, show the presence in eastern Ukraine of artillery and air defense systems sent by Russia to the separatist rebels. The black-and-white pictures were posted on Twitter by the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, who said the government of President Barack Obama is "sure" that all this armament belongs to Russia and not to the separatists.
     
The United States government released Saturday, February 14, 2015, satellite images that, it said, show the presence in eastern Ukraine of artillery and air defense systems sent by Russia to the separatist rebels. Satellites images showing the presence in eastern Ukraine of artillery and air defense systems sent by Russia to the separatist rebels.
     

On Friday the spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, Jen Psaki, accused Russia of continuing to deploy a "large amount" of heavy weapons and air defense systems around the Ukrainian town of Debaltseve.

"The Russian military has deployed a large amount of artillery and multiple rocket launcher systems around Debaltseve, where it is shelling Ukrainian positions," Psaki said.

Furthermore, "Russian units along the border with Ukraine are preparing a large shipment of supplies to pro-Russian forces fighting in eastern Ukraine," the spokeswoman said.

A cease-fire was declared in eastern Ukraine at a minute after midnight Sunday, kindling slender hopes of a reprieve from a conflict that has claimed more than 5,300 lives.

But within two hours of the cease-fire's scheduled start, the warring sides were already trading accusations of fresh attacks.

Ukrainian security services chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko said one infringement was reported about 50 minutes after the deadline. Artillery salvoes were fired from an area that Nalyvaichenko said is under the control of a Cossack unit manned by Russian citizens.
     
The United States government released Saturday, February 14, 2015, satellite images that, it said, show the presence in eastern Ukraine of artillery and air defense systems sent by Russia to the separatist rebels.