From the folks at Jane's on "Russian TOS-1 and Pantsyr-S1 systems reported in east Ukraine":
If accurate, the reports provide further indication that Russia is becoming less and less concerned with disguising its activities in east Ukraine, because Russia is the only logical source for these systems. Indeed, given the specialist roles of the equipment, it is not unreasonable to believe that the systems are being operated by Russian personnel.
Both systems are among the most modern in Russia's inventories, and neither is in Ukrainian service. Neither system has been particularly widely exported, with none of those customers a likely potential source for the systems. The TOS-1 has only been exported in limited numbers to Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Iraq. Meanwhile, the Pantsyr has only been exported to the Middle East, with orders from Algeria, Iraq, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates.
Today's situation map from Ukrainian military authorities, which probably looks a bit different from the map that will be parsed over today in Minsk:
An image from Donetsk, where a shell struck a bus station and killed at least one person (confirmed), perhaps more.
Agencies quote the Kremlin confirming that Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend talks with the leaders of Ukraine, France, and Germany today in Minsk, Belarus.
Particularly interesting given that Kazakhstan's president -- possibly out of sensitivity to the large number of ethnic Russians in his country -- is generally regarded as having steered clear of attacks on the West since Russia invaded and annexed Crimea from Ukraine.
Nazarbaev Calls U.S. And EU Sanctions On Russia 'Barbaric'
Interfax quotes Russian State Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin as vowing, "Let me underline this: Russia cannot imagine itself detached from the global economy and, naturally, it has no intention of isolating itself and will not allow anyone else to do so, no matter how high and mighty their statements and actions may be."
From Reuters:
Ukraine's Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko said on Wednesday she hoped talks with all holders of Ukrainian sovereign debt would start in early March after a deal is reached with the International Monetary Fund, Interfax news agency quoted her as saying.
"Ukraine will start consultations with all holders of sovereign eurobonds after an agreement is reached with the IMF. These consultations with creditors I hope will start at the beginning of March," she was quoted as saying.
The Finance Ministry said it had not directly approached Russia to restructure a $3 billion loan that falls due in December. On Tuesday Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Kiev had asked Moscow to restructure its debts.
Moscow continues to try to ratchet up the pressure for a deal of some sort today.
These news flashes via Reuters:
RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC SOURCE SAYS 70 PCT LIKELY THERE WILL BE AN AGREEMENT ON UKRAINE ON WEDS
"THE PRESIDENTS AREN'T TRAVELLING (TO MINSK) FOR NO REASON" - RUSSIAN DIPLOMATIC SOURCE SAYS
UKRAINE'S FINANCE MINISTER YARESKO SAYS "HOPES" TALKS WITH ALL HOLDERS OF SOVEREIGN DEBT WILL START AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH AFTER AN IMF DEAL IS REACHED - INTERFAX UKRAINE