Rebel leader in Ukraine says forces bolstered by '1,200 troops trained in Russia'
Speech by Alexander Zakharchenko fuels controversy over Moscow's support to the separatists By Tom Parfitt , Moscow 6:50PM BST 16 Aug 2014 Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine are being bolstered by 1,200 troops who “trained for four months in Russia”, according to the separatists’ leader. A video recording of Alexander Zakharchenko speaking to delegates in the rebel-held city of Donetsk appeared to confirm reports of Moscow’s military support to the separatists, who have been fighting Ukrainian government troops since April. Ukraine’s government claimed on Friday to have destroyed part of a column of Russian military vehicles that crossed its border, with Nato accusing Moscow of launching an “incursion”. Russia denies any incursion into Ukraine by its troops. It also denies lending any military or logistical support to the rebel militias. David Cameron, the Prime Minister, expressed his “grave concern” over reports of ...