Russia Plans Long-Range Bomber Flights Near N.American Waters
By Reuters, 12 November 2014
MOSCOW, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday it planned to send long-range bombers on flight patrols over North American waters, including the Gulf of Mexico, but the Pentagon played down Moscow's mission as routine training in international airspace.
The announcement by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came just days after NATO singled out some Russian incursions into European airspace, including more complex formations of aircraft flying more "provocative" routes.
Shoigu said flights along the border of the Russian Federation and over the Arctic Ocean were foreseen as part of training for long-range operations, according to state agency Itar Tass.
"In the current situation, we need to secure our military presence in the western part of the Atlantic, eastern part of the Pacific oceans and the waters of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico," he added.
At the Pentagon, spokesman Colonel Steve Warren said every nation had the right to operate in international waters and international airspace.
"The Russians have patrolled in the Gulf (of Mexico) in the past, and we've seen the Russian Navy operate in the Gulf of Mexico. These are international waters," Warren said.
"It's important that the Russians conduct their operations safely and in accordance with international standards."
Relations between Moscow and the West have plummeted over the crisis in Ukraine, where Kiev faces a rebellion by pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country.
Bomber patrol flights, a Cold War-era practice, were cut back after the fall of the Soviet Union but President Vladimir Putin revived them in 2007.
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Fears of Fresh Fighting in Ukraine as Russian Tanks, Heavy Weapons and Combat Troops are Spotted Crossing the Border, says Top NATO Commander
- General Philip Breedlove said NATO officials saw force crossing border
- Claimed Russian tanks, artillery and air defense systems entered Ukraine
- Russian Defense Ministry quickly rejected his statement as 'groundless'
- News comes amid concerns of re-escalation of fighting in east Ukraine
- UN Security Council held emergency session on situation this afternoon
By AP, 12 November 2014
A large column of Russian tanks, heavy weapons and combat troops entered eastern Ukraine earlier this week, NATO's top commander claimed today, prompting fears of an re-escalation in the seven month old conflict.
U.S. General Philip Breedlove said his officials witnessed the force cross over the 'completely wide-open' border between the countries at some point in the last two days.
The Russian Defense Ministry quickly rejected Breedlove's statement as groundless and continues to deny that its troops have entered eastern Ukraine to help pro-Russian separatists fighting against forces loyal to the Kiev-based government.
The news comes the U.N. Security Council held an emergency session today on Ukraine amid worries about a renewal of the full-scale conflict in the rebel-held east.
Force: An armored personnel carrier belonging to pro-Russian separatists travels on a main road through rebel-territory near the east Ukrainian village of Torez this morning
Speaking in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, General Breedlove said:
'We have seen columns of Russian equipment, primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defense systems and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine.'
He wouldn't say how many fresh troops and weapons have moved into Ukraine and wouldn't specify how the alliance obtained the information, but added that the force was spotted in the last two days.
The Russian Defense Ministry quickly rejected Breedlove's statement as groundless.
The West and Ukraine have continuously accused Moscow of fueling a pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine with troops and weapons - the claims Russia has rejected.
Claims: U.S. General Philip Breedlove (pictured left in Sofia with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov today) said his officials witnessed the force cross the 'completely wide-open' border in the last two days
A column of tanks drive from a rebel-territory to Donetsk near the town of Shakhtarsk in eastern Ukraine
The news comes as UN officials with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe called an emergency session on Ukraine amid concerns of a re-escalation of fighting.
The main city in the eastern Ukraine, Donetsk, has seen its heaviest shelling in recent weeks despite a cease-fire signed two months ago between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists.
The cease-fire called on September 5 has been violated almost daily.
The Security Council has met well over a dozen times on Ukraine since the crisis began early this year, but little action can be taken as permanent member Russia has veto power.
'Russian tanks' seen cruising through Donetsk in Ukraine...
Military: Pro-Russian gunmen patrol the centre of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine earlier this morning
This morning heavy artillery fire rocked Donetsk - the rebel-held industrial city that represents a de facto capital for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. It was unclear whether the fire came from the government forces besieging the city, or from rebel resistance troops.
There were also reports of heavy clashes in the outskirts of the rebel-held city of Luhansk, where separatists fired on a government posititon near the village of Schastya.
More than 4,000 people have died since government forces moved in April to put down an armed insurrection by the rebels in the two regions, which border Russia.
Kiev says it is redeploying forces in eastern Ukraine to prepare for a possible new rebel offensive.
Russia Denies NATO Accusations over Troops in Ukraine
MOSCOW, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Russia denied accusations by NATO on Wednesday that it has sent tanks and troops to eastern Ukraine in the past few days.
NATO's top military commander Philip Breedlove said in Bulgaria the alliance had spotted military equipment arriving from Russia in regions of east Ukraine that are held by pro-Russian separatist rebels.
General-Major Igor Konashenkov, a Russian Defence Ministry official, dismissed the comments as anti-Russian "hot air" and said "there was and is no evidence" behind the NATO accusations......
"We have already stopped paying attention to unsubstantiated statements by NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Philip Breedlove, on Russian military convoys he 'observed' allegedly invading Ukraine," Konashenkov said.
The West has imposed sanctions on Russia over the crisis in Ukraine, saying Moscow has provided the rebels with arms and reinforced them with troops since they rose up a month Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in March.
Breedlove said in Bulgaria that NATO had seen "Russian equipment, primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defence systems and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine" in recent days.