Ukraine Separatist Leader Says Rebels Getting Tanks And Reinforcements -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Ukrainian rebels are receiving new armoured vehicles and fighters trained in Russia, with which they plan to launch a major counter-offensive against government forces, a separatist leader said in a video released on Saturday.

The four-month conflict in eastern Ukraine has reached a critical phase, with Kiev and Western governments watching nervously to see if Russia will intervene in support of the increasingly besieged rebels - an intention Moscow denies.

Alexander Zakharchenko, prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said the rebels were in the process of receiving some 150 armoured vehicles, including 30 tanks, and 1,200 fighters who he said had spent four months training in Russia.

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More News On Ukraine Separatist Leader Announcing That Reinforcements Are Coming In From Russia

Ukraine Rebels Boast About Troops and Tanks Coming from Russia -- Daily Beast
Ukraine crisis: Rebel fighters 'trained in Russia' -- BBC
Rebel leader in Ukraine says forces bolstered by '1,200 troops trained in Russia' -- The Telegraph
Ukraine rebel says he has 1,200 fighters 'trained in Russia' under his command -- The Guardian
Ukraine separatists 'receive recruits trained in Russia' -- Deutsche Welle
Ukraine rebels getting tanks and reinforcements, says separatist leader -- Sydney Morning Herald
Ukraine rebels gearing up for counteroffensive -- Reuters

My Comment: He has to boost the morale of his forces .... they are outnumbered 3:1 and are now facing an onslaught of Ukrainian armor/artillery/ground forces/and air strikes. As to these "reinforcements" .... I am willing to bet that it was the convoy that was observed going into Ukraine from Russia on Thursday .