Large Convoy Of Russian Military Equipment Entered Donetsk

The troops marched along Universitetskaya Street and were driving for about an hour.

Residents of occupied Donetsk have reported a large convoy of military equipment entering the city following Kremlin head Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the so-called "DPR" and "LPR".

This was reported by Radio Svaboda.

Residents reported that the convoy marched down Universitetskaya Street and was driving for about an hour.

"We lost count on the hundredth item. They were coming from Donetsk along the highway between Donetsk and Makeyevka, presumably in the direction of Yasinovataya. Were driving down the highway from the centre of Donetsk," reported a resident of the city.

On February 15, the Russian State Duma supported an appeal to Vladimir Putin to recognize the L/DPR. The head of the aggressor state, commenting on the decision, said that Russia "should do everything to solve the Donbas issues".

The advisor to the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Mikhail Podolyak, said that such an appeal was an escalatory step and would complicate the situation in Europe.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stressed that Russia's recognition of the L/DPR would mean a deliberate withdrawal from the Minsk agreements, which would deal a serious blow to the political and diplomatic settlement. The EU and NATO also condemned the Duma's decision. Defence Minister Aleksey Reznikov said that Putin's recognition of the L/DNR could be a pretext for a new Russian invasion.

On February 21, militant leaders Denys Pushylin and Leonid Pasechnik asked the Kremlin head to recognize the independence of the self-proclaimed L/DPR. On the same day, Putin officially recognized the L/DPR.