NATO: Number of Russian Troops on Ukrainian Border up to 20,000

Aug. 6, 2014 – Defense News

BRUSSELS — Russia has increased its presence of troops on the Ukraine border to 20,000, from 12,000 in mid-July, creating a "dangerous situation" and stoking concerns Moscow could intervene in its neighbor by force, NATO said Wednesday.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said recent Russian actions had escalated the crisis and undermined efforts to find a diplomatic solution.

"Russia has amassed around 20,000 combat-ready troops (on the border).... This is a dangerous situation," Lungescu said.

"We share the concern that Russia could use the pretext of a humanitarian or peacekeeping mission as an excuse to send troops into eastern Ukraine," she said, charging that Moscow continued to support pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine and allow weapons to cross the border.

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