Firmly Warns Ukraine, Russian Chief Of Military Staff: Moscow Will Thwart Any Provocation In Donbass

Chief of Staff of the Russian Military General Valery Gerasimov with President Vladimir Putin. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru/Press Service of the President of the Russian Federation)

JAKARTA - The stalemate in eastern Ukraine is increasing, but any provocation by Ukrainian authorities to resolve the dispute in Donbass, Ukraine involving the use of force will be thwarted, Russia's Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov warned Thursday.

"The delivery of helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and planes to Ukraine pushed the Ukrainian authorities towards sudden and dangerous steps. Kiev did not fulfill the Minsk Agreement," he explained at a briefing for foreign military diplomats, citing TASS 9 December.

"Ukrainian armed forces are touting they have started using US-supplied Javelin anti-aircraft tank missile systems in Donbass and also using Turkish reconnaissance/attack drones."

As a result, the already tense situation in the east of the country is getting worse. However, any provocation by the Ukrainian authorities to resolve the Donbass military difficulties will be thwarted," the Russian Chief of Military Staff stressed.

General Gerasimov further emphasized that the news spread by the media about Russia allegedly preparing for an invasion of Ukraine was a lie, while military activity on Russian soil itself did not require notification.

"NATO countries pay excessive attention to troop movements on Russian territory. Relocation of troops in combat training is a routine practice for the armed forces of any country," he underlined.

"Military activities carried out on the national territory do not require any notification. Media reports about Russia alleging preparations for an invasion of Ukraine are lies," he concluded.