Witnesses have described Russian army autos on the transfer into the 2 breakaway republics in jap Ukraine that President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged as impartial.

A video displaying a column of army autos with their headlights on transferring in convoy alongside a highway on the outskirts of town of Donetsk was launched by Al Jazeera.

It got here solely hours after Putin stated he would deploy troops into the self-declared Donetsk Individuals's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk Individuals's Republic (LPR) to interact in "peacekeeping" in a transfer which Western leaders worry might result in conflict.

Ukrainian officers have stated that individuals within the city of Makiivka, about 10 miles west of rebel-held Donetsk, have seen what seem like Russian armored autos on the transfer, The Guardian reported.

The paper cited one supply as saying that "an enormous convoy" of Russian armored personnel carriers (APCs) and different tools had been touring for one and a half hours and was seen heading north in the direction of town of Yasynuvata, additionally within the Donetsk area.

Video shot by Reuters at Makiivka exhibits APCs and vehicles on the highway the place such army autos had not been on the streets in earlier days.

No insignia have been seen and Ukrainian officers stated it was not doable to inform if the troops belonged to the common Russian military or have been from Russian-controlled separatist models, The Guardian reported.

Nevertheless, the footage will elevate fears that Russia might attempt to broaden the territory the Moscow-backed rebels managed, sparking a bloody battle.

How a lot territory within the breakaway republics Russia will acknowledge shall be one of many decisive elements in whether or not conflict will escape. Since 2014, Russia has been backing separatist teams combating in opposition to Kyiv-backed forces, though the Kremlin has at all times denied involvement.

Leonid Kalashnikov, a Communist MP and head of the Russian state Duma's regional affairs committee, advised RIA information company that the popularity of the LPR and DPR could be "throughout the borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas," round two-thirds of which is managed by Ukraine.

"That might imply endorsing separatist territorial claims and de facto conflict with Ukraine," the Monetary Occasions reported.

Nevertheless, one other influential lawmaker, Andrei Klimov, stated that Russia's recognition would solely prolong to the prevailing separatist borders.

Forward of an emergency assembly of the U.Okay.'s emergency Cobra authorities committee to debate sanctions on Moscow, U.Okay well being minister Sajid Javid advised Sky Information on Tuesday "you may conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun."

The U.S. has introduced it will impose new funding, commerce and financing restrictions on the 2 pro-Russia areas.

Ukrainian troops
Ukrainian troops patrol within the city of Novoluhanske, jap Ukraine, on February 19, 2022. Russian armored autos have been filmed transferring into the breakaway Moscow-backed republics within the Donbas area after Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced they might be acknowledged. ARIS MESSINIS/Getty