The Donetsk separatists have confirmed their new defense minister, our news desk reports:
The Supreme Council of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) has officially named Vladimir Kononov to replace Igor Strelkov as "defense minister."
The separatist group's council met on August 15 to confirm Kononov, who was previously acting defense minister, in his new post.
The fate of the man Konononv replaces is still unclear.
Reports on August 13 claimed that Strelkov, whose real name is Igor Girkin, was severely wounded in fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Some DNR representatives denied those reports while others confirmed it.
On August 14, a pro-separatist website reported that Strelkov had resigned as defense minister in connection with a transfer to another post within the separatist movement.
Strelkov himself has not been seen publicly or posted any comments online since reports emerged that he was wounded. (ITAR-TASS and Interfax)
German TV correspondant @birgitvirnich witnesses 19 Russian army armored vehicles, rolling towards the Ukr. border. pic.twitter.com/BpP2YSxJme
— ConflictReporter (@MiddleEast_BRK) August 15, 2014
NATO has said it's looking into reports that Russian military vehicles may have crossed the border.
"If confirmed, they are further evidence that Russia is doing the very opposite of what it's saying. Russia has been escalating the conflict, even as it calls for de-escalation," alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said.
"Russia needs to pull back its troops, stop the flow of arms and fighters over the border with Ukraine, stop supporting the separatists, and engage in a genuine and sincere dialogue with Ukraine," she told Reuters.
More in our latest news wrap...
Philip Hammond: urge the Russians to withdraw any military personnel they have inside #Ukraine & stop supporting the separatists
— Foreign Office (FCO) (@foreignoffice) August 15, 2014
My day's work - chased a humanitarian convoy that stopped short of border, stumbled upon an actual mini-invasion. http://t.co/RPHO82Q5A2
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) August 14, 2014
In Russian posh supermarket Azbuka Vkusa today, herring from Belarus. From Belarus? It doesn't have any sea.
— Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) August 15, 2014
I just listened to Rossia24 cuts from Putin's ystrday speech&am convinced it was hastily written, unrehearsed. Not the speech he planned.
— Robert Coalson (@CoalsonR) August 15, 2014