The individuals are Valery Bolotov, the self-proclaimed leader of the "Luhansk People's Republic"; Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov), who commands the Donbas People's Militia; Valery Kaurov, leader of the Union of Orthodox Citizens of Ukraine; Sergei Menyailo, the acting governor of Sevastopol; Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, the self-proclaimed mayor of the city of Slovyansk; Andrey Purgin, a leader in the self-declared "Donetsk People's Republic"; and Denis Pushilin, the self-declared chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the "Donetsk People's Republic."
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Thursday that at least a few thousand more Russian troops were now at the frontier, and called it a regrettable step backwards following an earlier withdrawal from the border.
"There has been no build-up," Yuri Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser, told reporters.
He said Russia was concerned about security at the border and added: "This means just the border guards are getting a few reinforcements, and troops have been withdrawn."
On @lifenews_ru, batty MP Elena Mizulina declares Ukraine "accounts for 70% of child porn". HT @buu3a pic.twitter.com/D3aRJLj2t6
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 18, 2014
Spent time @ Army SOS in Kiev, grassroots initiative providing Ukr soldiers w basic eqipmt. Generals r still sending units 2 front w/o armor
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 20, 2014
I saw them take a dozen calls pleading for assistance. They say their main problem not money or ppl willing 2 help, but govt bureaucracy.
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 20, 2014
400 flak helmets being held up by Ukrainian customs, say Army SOS. (!)
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) June 20, 2014
Officials say Poltava pipeline explosion likely sabotage. Why? Gazprom set to bid on a part of Nord Stream on July 15 http://t.co/6rtXHrwFXM
— Isaac Webb (@isaacdwebb) June 20, 2014
Ukraine peace plan to call for 10-km buffer zone on Russia border http://t.co/BsrUDJczZE
— Alessandra Prentice (@alessaprentice) June 20, 2014
#Putin publicly ignoring pleas for help from separatists in #Ukraine - signaling they are on their own, but also not trying to stop them.
— Douglas Herbert (@dougf24) June 20, 2014
Ukraine says seven of its troops have been killed in heavy fighting with pro-Russian separatists in the country's east, as President Petro Poroshenko prepares to unveil his plan to quell the conflict.
Reports said fighting appeared to be centered on Krasny Liman and Yampil in the Donetsk region.
Ukraine says 300 rebels were killed, although that figure cannot be verified.
A top rebel commander, Igor Strelkov, reported "heavy losses" in equipment and arms among the separatists.
Meanwhile, Poroshenko is expected to announce a 14-point peace plan on June 20.
According to an unofficial copy published by the media, the plan calls for the creation of a 10-kilometer buffer zone on the border with Russia.
It is also said to include an offer of a unilateral cease-fire by government forces and an amnesty for separatists -- but only if they lay down their arms.