LATEST from our news desk:
Kyiv is accusing Russia of building up forces on its border with Ukraine and says that separatists backed by "Russian mercenaries" are firing on Ukrainian border guards in an attempt to bring armored vehicles into the country.
Ukrainian National and Security Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko told journalists that the clashes took place in the early hours of July 14 near the border settlement of Dyakove.
He said the events "show that the Russian side has embarked on a course of escalation of the conflict in the Donbas."
Kyiv continues to seek release of a military pilot and filmmaker detained by Russia:
Report: Well-known Ukrainian military analyst says Russia preparing invasion for July 15.
Here is the Facebook post by pro-Kyiv Ukrainian military blogger Dmitry Tymchuk to which we alluded earlier, based on the Ukrinform report. In it, he cites intelligence suggesting that regular Russian army troops (as opposed to "Russian mercenaries") are supplying weapons to the "terrorists" and says that "Thus we are talking about a full Russian military invasion of Donbas."
Ukrainian Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey says a Ukrainian AN-26 military transport plane had been shot down by a rocket that was "probably" fired from Russian territory. Heletey said some members of the crew have been in contact with Ukrainian military officials. There is no word on casualties.