A number of tanks, rocket launchers, artillery and other heavy weaponry allegedly belonging to the Russian army has been reported to have been gathering at a makeshift military base close to the Ukranian border.
However, the weaponry being gathered at the site is difficult to identify, since most of the vehicles had their identifying marks removed. Most of the soldiers seen in the area had the insignias from their uniforms removed as well, according to The Independent.
Russia has been adamant in denying its direct involvement in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Moscow-backed separatists have been engaged in combat with forces loyal to the pro-Western government in Kiev, as reported by Reuters.
When asked if the amassing of a large amount of weaponry in the Kuzminsky firing range, which is around 50 km (30 miles) from the Ukrainian border, is a sign that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was firm in Russia's current stance.
"I find the wording of this question, 'if an invasion is being prepared," inappropriate as such," he said.
The amount of military equipment in the area has tripled since March this year, when only a few dozen pieces of armaments were in view, according to Reuters. Since Saturday, four goods trains with military vehicles and soldiers arrived through a rail station in the Rostov region of southern Russia.
Valentina Melnikova, a human rights campaigner who works closely with families of Russian servicemen, said she became privy to information which suggests that the Rostov region was being used as a staging post for Russian troops on the way to Ukraine.
Melnikova also stated that prior to being deployed to the area, the servicemen were required to sign non-disclosure agreements as well as papers which stated that they were acting voluntarily, according to Reuters.
"Of course it was an order. How could it be voluntary? They are servicemen," she said.
