Ukraine readying for fresh combat as Russian military hardware spotted
Military trucks without licence plates drive into Donetsk in Ukraine. (Getty) Getty
Ukraine says it is readying for fresh combat operations in the war-torn east as NATO backed claims that Moscow has poured columns of military hardware across the border.
Kiev's warning on Wednesday will fuel fears of a return to all-out conflict despite a two-month-old ceasefire deal which has halted fighting along much of the frontline but not stopped shelling at strategic flashpoints.
Defence Minister Stepan Poltorak said Kiev was preparing for a new round of fighting after seeing "increased activity" by Russia and pro-Moscow rebels across the region.
"The main task I see is to prepare for combat operations. We are doing this, we are readying our reserves," Poltorak said at the start of a cabinet meeting.
"We observe their movements, we know where they are and we expect unpredictable actions from them."
His comments came as NATO's supreme commander threw his weight behind allegations that Moscow has stepped up the flow of armaments across the frontier.
"We have seen columns of Russian equipment, primarily Russian tanks, Russian artillery, Russian air defence systems and Russian combat troops entering into Ukraine," US General Philip Breedlove said in Sofia.
Moscow has consistently denied it is involved in the fighting in east Ukraine.
The UN Security Council was set to hold an emergency session to discuss the Ukraine crisis later on Wednesday, with representatives from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) set to give an update on the situation on the ground.
On the ground, several hours of heavy artillery fire rocked Donetsk, the most intense fighting since the weekend.
The explosions of mortars being fired from near the city centre towards government positions at the ruined airport continued throughout the morning but had calmed down by early afternoon, an AFP correspondent said.
Ukraine's military said one soldier had been killed and five wounded as its positions came under repeated shelling around the region over the past 24 hours.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
