Moscow. December 9th. INTERFAX-AVN - Russia does not plan to invade the territory of Ukraine, but any provocations by Kiev on the forceful settlement of the situation in the Donbass will be stopped, said the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov.
"The information spread in the media about Russia's allegedly impending invasion of Ukraine is a lie," Gerasimov said at a briefing for foreign military attaches on Thursday.
"NATO countries pay excessive attention to the movement of troops on the territory of the Russian Federation. The redeployment of units during combat training is a routine practice for the armed forces of any State. Military activity is carried out on national territory and does not require notification," he said.
"However, any provocations by the Ukrainian authorities to resolve the problems of Donbass by force will be stopped," Gerasimov said.
"The supply of helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and airplanes to Ukraine is pushing the Ukrainian authorities to take drastic and dangerous steps. Kiev is not fulfilling the Minsk agreements. The Ukrainian armed forces declare the beginning of the use of Javelin anti-tank missile systems in the Donbas, which were supplied by the United States, and also use reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicles of Turkish production. As a result, the already tense situation in the east of this country is escalating," Gerasimov said.