MOSCOW, August 21 (RIA Novosti) — The Russian Defense Ministry has denied Ukrainian media reports that a Russian military vehicle “has been captured” along with military documents, ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Thursday.
“Most likely the next ‘undeniable fact' will be that during ‘heavy fighting' a Kalashnikov or F-1 hand grenade will be captured with some sort of personal diary of apparent Russian soldiers,” Konashenkov said.
He said that the latest report like this from Ukraine is already the “1,001st piece of evidence.”
Konashenkov also noted that the samples of documents found in the “captured” Russian military vehicle have not been used by the Russian Army for the past five years.
A number of Ukrainian press agencies, citing an unknown source, reported that military aid from Russia had allegedly arrived in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk.
At the same time, Ukraine’s intelligence service said it was unable to confirm the reports.
Some Western countries have accused Russia of supplying military equipment to help independence supporters in their resistance against Ukrainian national forces. The West grew even more vocal after a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane crashed in Donetsk Region in July, with many saying it was shot down with a Russian missile.
Moscow has denied sending military aid to Ukraine’s eastern regions. Earlier this week, Russia denied allegations about a Russian “incursion” in Ukraine, and urged the European Union to adhere to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which prohibits EU members from sending Kiev the weapons it has requested.
Kiev said earlier that it has not received any military support from any country in the course of its military operation.
Since mid-April, Kiev has been conducting a military operation against the southeastern regions of Ukraine that refused to recognize the legitimacy of its new government that came to power after a February coup.
Russia has repeatedly condemned Kiev’s actions and urged it to pursue a peaceful dialogue with representatives of Ukraine’s southeastern regions.
