Ukrainian Intelligence: More Russian servicemen have arrived in the Donbas
The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said that Russian servicemen arrived in the the self-proclaimed republics of the Donbas.
The Ministry asserts that a subdivision of the 22nd Separate Special Mission Brigade of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces has been redeployed to the Southeast of Ukraine from the Rostov region.
In addition, the Main Directorate of Intelligence reports that on the 3rd of March, visitors disarmed a group of Russian Army officers who started fighting and shooting in a cafe-bars in Stakhanov in the Luhansk region.
"On March 4th, drunken Russian soldiers caused a traffic accident that damaged three civilian cars. According to Ukrainian Intelligence, the aggrieved owners took the Russians hostage, demanding 5,000 U.S. Dollars and 565,000 Rubles as compensation for damages," as indicated in the message from the Directorate.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry also provided information regarding losses of Russian servicemen from the 9th Special Motorized Rifle Regiment of Marines. According to scouts, on March 4th, one Russian officer was killed and three others were injured as a result of unsuccessful attempt of a subversive-reconnaissance group to make a push into the conflict zone. "The commander of the Russian regiment is trying to hide the actual cause of his subordinates’ death and injuries," reports the Main Directorate of Intelligence.
The Russians have not yet commented on the Ukrainian Intelligence report. Moscow has repeatedly stated that Russia is not a party to the conflict in the Donbas and that there are no Russian troops in the region.