Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Thursday that 9,000 Russian troops are in the rebel-controlled area of eastern Ukraine. He said there is a huge threat of new attacks on Ukrainian forces.
VOA reporters in the area saw a number of Ukrainian soldiers arriving at the train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk. The reporters also saw Ukrainian troop carriers on the move in the town.
Ukrainian officials say the fighting this week began near Donetsk. They say about 1,000 pro-Russian rebel fighters launched an early morning attack just west of the city. Russia denies having any troops in Ukraine, and says any Russian citizens there are volunteers.
