Who Is Supplying Ukraine's Separatists Their Weapons?

Ukrainian servicemen stand near weapons, seized from pro-Russian separatists, near Slaviansk in this July 8, 2014 file photo. Credit: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/Files

Special Report: Where Ukraine's Separatists Get Their Weapons -- Reuters

(Reuters) - On the last day of May, a surface-to-air rocket was signed out of a military base near Moscow where it had been stored for more than 20 years.

According to the ornate Cyrillic handwriting in the weapon's Russian Defence Ministry logbook, seen by Reuters, the portable rocket, for use with an Igla rocket launcher, was destined for a base in Rostov, some 50 km (31 miles) from the Ukrainian border. In that area, say U.S. officials, lies a camp for training Ukrainian separatist fighters.

Three weeks later the rocket and its logbook turned up in eastern Ukraine, where government troops seized them from pro-Russian separatists.

The logbook, which is more than 20 pages long, records that rocket 03181 entered service on May 21, 1993, and had regular tests as recently as 2005 to make sure it was in fighting form. The seal of the Russian Defence Ministry has been stamped over the signature sending the weapon to Rostov.

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My Comment: This is a long report from Reuters that is heavily dependent on Ukraine government sources on one side, and pro-rebels from the other side. They all have their positions and agendas to push .... and as a result I would be very skeptical of the evidence that they are providing. But there is no question about one thing .... both sides are now heavily armed, and the fighting is intensifying with heavy weapons now being used. And while the Ukraine military has the advantage of more heavy weapons, air support, and greater numbers .... ousting the pro-Russian rebels from their strongholds is going to be difficult for the rebels also have some heavy weapons plus the advantage of knowing the terrain, having local support, and having Russia to run to as a safe haven if the situation becomes unbearable for them in eastern Ukraine.