These photos purport to show the same Russian
soldier (circled) in operations in Georgia in 2008 and Kramatorsk and
Sloviansk in Ukraine in 2014
The US State Department
has released photos of soldiers in eastern Ukraine, which it says show
that some of the fighters are Russian special forces.
The BBC is unable to verify the pictures, which were provided by Ukrainian diplomats.
The photos appeared to identify Russian soldiers, and show
similarly equipped and armed fighters in different cities in eastern
Ukraine.
There was no immediate response to the pictures from the Russian government.
Pro-Russian militants are holding official buildings in towns
and cities in the east. However, Russia has denied it has any soldiers
in Ukraine.
The photos, provided to the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe, appeared to show the same man taking part in
operations in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in eastern Ukraine, and in
operations in Georgia in 2008.
Ukrainian diplomats said the fighters in Kramatorsk (left) and Sloviansk were similarly equipped and armed
Diplomats said the soldier circled in red
was seen in both Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, and in a photo (centre)
showing a group in the Russian Special Forces
Another group of photos appeared to link a gunman seen in
photos in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk to a team in the Russian special
forces.
Ukraine's permanent representative to the International
Organizations in Vienna said the photos provided "growing evidence of
Russia's involvement in instigating and co-ordinating the separatist
actions that destabilise the situation in the east of Ukraine".
US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said there was
"broad unity in the international community about the connection between
Russia and some of the armed militants in eastern Ukraine".
"The photos presented by the Ukrainians last week only
further confirm this," she said, adding that it was a "pivotal period"
for Russia to "use their influence to de-escalate the situation in
Eastern Ukraine".
Russia has previously denied it is destabilising Ukraine, and
warned the authorities in Kiev against any use of force against
pro-Russian demonstrators.
"There are no Russian units, special services or instructors in the east of Ukraine," President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
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