WASHINGTON, November 10 (RIA Novosti) — Washington expresses concern over the reports on the movements of heavy weapons and tanks near the front lines in eastern Ukraine, National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said in a statement Sunday.
"We are very concerned by intensified fighting in eastern Ukraine, as well as numerous reports, including from the Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), that Russian backed and supplied separatists are moving large convoys of heavy weapons and tanks to the front lines of the conflict," the statement published by the White House press service said.
However, earlier on Sunday deputy commander of the Donetsk People's Republic militia Eduard Basurin told RIA Novosti that the convoy detected by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (SMM) belonged to the independence supporters and was moved from its initial locations "for tactical reasons".
The convoy was detected by the SMM on Saturday. It comprised more than 40 trucks, heavy weaponry and tankers; nevertheless, as the SMM was on the move, it could not inspect the convoy and its contents.
The Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe was deployed at Ukrainian government's request after the situation escalated in the country, as its southeastern regions refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government that came to power following a February coup. The monitors are meant to contribute to reducing tensions and fostering peace, stability and security in Ukraine and on the Russian-Ukrainian border.
