Russia purposefully increasing troop numbers in Crimea
Russia continues to increase its ground and naval forces in Crimea, according to Vadym Skybytsky of the Main Intelligence Directorate at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
"Russia continues to purposefully increase its military groupings in the Autonomous [Republic of] Crimea," he said at a briefing on Friday.
The ground segment of the troops is being reinforced in the north of the peninsula, he said. In the naval segment, of particular note is the frigate "Admiral Makarov" armed with the Kalibr-NK missile system which can hit any target across Ukraine from any position in southern and western Crimea.
He also added that the Russian command does not reveal real losses of the Russian army in eastern Ukraine. "Ukraine's main intelligence department has once again confirmed that the command of the Russian occupation forces deliberately hides the real number of those killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine. According to the intelligence agency, the number of killed in action was 25 and wounded in action was 76 on July 25 through July 31," Skybytsky said.
