"Big reinforcements" arrive in Donetsk - report

"Big reinforcements" arrive in Donetsk - report

DONETSK -- According to the French agency AFP, "big reinforcements in heavy weapons are arriving tin Donetsk, a stronghold of pro-Russian rebels in the east of Ukraine."

AFP reporters said they saw "six tanks and two armored vehicles near Shahtyorsk, on the road to Donetsk."

In Makivka, also near Donetsk, the agency said its reporters saw "a column of 15 trucks without license plates, two of which carried 122 mm guns."

Reports yesterday said there was fierce fighting around Donetsk, a day after OSCE monitors said they saw a large number of unmarked military vehicles in the parts controlled by the rebels.

The authorities in Kiev believe that the rebels had received equipment from Russia.

"More than 40 trucks and tanks were seen on the road east of Makeyevka," said observers, adding that 19 of them were large vehicles that pulled howitzers, with soldiers in dark green fatigues without insignia.

More than 4,000 people have died since the beginning of the fighting in April, as the pro-Russian separatists took control in the regions of eastern Ukraine.

A fragile ceasefire has been in effect since September 5, but despite that, since then, hundreds of people were killed.