The West is upping pressure on Russia. Latest from our news desk:
The West is increasing its pressure on Moscow to explain what U.S. officials have described as a direct intervention by the Russian military in eastern Ukraine.
In a tweet on August 28, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt (@geoffpyatt), said "an increasing number of Russian troops are intervening directly in fighting on Ukrainian territory."
He said Russian-supplied tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and rocket launchers "have been insufficient to defeat Ukraine's armed forces."
In a phone call with President Vladimir Putin on August 27, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said reports of a Russian military incursion “must be explained" and emphasized Moscow's "major responsibility for de-escalation."
The U.S. State Department said on August 27 it suspects a “Russian-directed counteroffensive” is under way in eastern Ukraine and chided Moscow for its “unwillingness to tell the truth.”
Moscow denies arming the rebels or sending troops into Ukraine.
And tellingly the word "Europe" is trending on Ukraine's Twitter.
This story has been quietly gathering steam in recent days:
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman says reports of secret funerals held for Russian paratroopers killed in fighting in Ukraine should be investigated.
Dmitry Peskov is quoted as saying such reports "should be checked in great detail before any conclusions can be drawn on that score."
He said he could not confirm such checks had begun.
Independent media reports in Russia have spoken of the secret funerals of two paratroopers in northwestern Russia. Mourners are quoted as saying the men were killed in Ukraine.
Ukraine this week said its forces had captured 10 Russian paratroopers. Moscow said they had crossed into eastern Ukraine accidentally.
The U.S. State Department said on August 27 it suspects a "Russian-directed counteroffensive" is under way against Ukrainian government forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Moscow has denied fomenting the separatist insurgency.
On Twitter, there are a few hashtags (#russiainvadesukraine #russiainvadedukraine) responding to Russia's latest incursions into Ukraine. Many of the tweets are outraged, desperate to let the world know what's happening.
Protests in Russia
From the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine:
Good morning. Major developments overnight:
-- U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki says reports from eastern and southeastern Ukraine "indicate that a Russian-directed counteroffensive is likely under way" against government forces in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
-- Germany has demanded an explanation from Moscow amid reports of the presence of Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine. In a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 27, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the reports “must be explained," her spokesperson said.
More in our latest news wrap.
This ends our live-blogging for August 27. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage of the crisis in Ukraine.