Russia’s Shoigu says Ukraine has built up serious forces near breakaway regions

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Monday told President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine had built up serious forces near breakaway regions in the east of the country and may be preparing to try and take them back by force, something Kyiv has repeatedly denied.

Shoigu accused Ukraine of stepping up shelling of the breakaway regions. Earlier on Monday, Kyiv denied responsibility after Russia said a shell fired from Ukrainian territory had completely destroyed a border guard post in Russia’s Rostov region.