.@amnesty releases new sat images, says "mounting evidence" of #Russia involvement in #Ukraine http://t.co/74BMS2bzrP pic.twitter.com/l1pJGszf6A
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) September 7, 2014
Amnesty International has released new images reportedly showing more Russian military involvement in eastern Ukraine. This comes after NATO has also released satellite images showing Russian military units inside eastern Ukraine, and Ukraine forces detaining Russian paratroopers.
In this first photo, Amnesty points out Russian artillery positions somewhere in eastern Ukraine, presumably near the Russian border.
In this next photo, Amnesty points out possibly six 2S19 Msta-S self propelled howitzers in eastern Ukraine.
Next, they point out possible D-30 artillery on the left photo and possible BRDM-2 amphibious vehicles on the right.
These new images come when an already shaky truce between Ukraine and rebel forces in the east is getting much more fragile. On Saturday, several loud explosions were heard in Mariupol, with several Ukrainian fighters saying Grad rockets are beingfired on the city. There are also reports that several Ukrainian troops were ambushed and killed on Saturday in the eastern portion of the country.
It is unclear if the truce will hold, as both sides could be using this temporary ceasefire to regroup and then launch more offensives when the time is right. As Tom has told me, it is politically unfeasible for Poroshenko to allow a pseudo-state to exist in the east--where a large portion of their industry resides. On the opposite side, however, it is unlikely the rebels, who are undoubtedly (at this point) being directly aided by Russia, will be content with what they have now.
What is very clear now, though, is that it is getting harder and harder for Russia to deny their involvement in Ukraine.
-- Caleb
Pictures are the work of Amnesty International.