Russia has sent tanks, rocket launchers, and other heavy weapons to separatists in Ukraine, the New York Times reports.
A convoy of three T-64 tanks, several BM-21 "Grad" multiple rocket launchers and other military vehicles crossed the border near the Ukrainian town of Snizhne, State Department officials said. Reports and images of the weapons’ presence circulated on Thursday, but there were conflicting claims about where they had come from.
"This is unacceptable," said Marie Harf, the deputy State Department spokeswoman. "A failure by Russia to de-escalate this situation will lead to additional costs." […]
"Russia will claim these tanks were taken from Ukrainian forces, but no Ukrainian tank units have been operating in that area," the State Department said Friday afternoon. "We are confident that these tanks came from Russia."