Novoazovsk, Ukraine - Well-trained and equipped pro-Russian separatists are holding firm control of the strategic coastal city of Novoazovsk, just one day after Ukraine had claimed Russian tanks to be crossing their border. The rebels have announced that their intensions are to keep pushing west through Ukraine toward a major port city.

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Witnesses to these rebel tanks have stated that none of the equipment bore any marks to identify their company or country. However, some reporters state that they saw Russian markings on food and rations packaging. This leads some to believe that the Russian army issued the rebel's field rations.

The "Russian-backed" rebels have denied that they are getting any type of Russian military vehicles or machinery.

The rebels state that they are fighting with machinery that the "Ukrainian forces have abandoned". According to the rebel militants, the Ukrainian forces "just dump it and flee".

Although such claims of using only confiscated Ukrainian equipment are common, top rebel leader Alexander Zakharchenko himself has said Russia was supplying equipment and fighters - something Moscow has steadfastly denied doing.

Just one day prior to the rebel infiltration, the Ukrainian government accused Russian government of sending numerous tanks, artillery, and the personnel to man them across the Ukrainian border. NATO estimated that at least 1,000 Russian troops were in Ukraine at the time.

With tension rising, the European Union foreign ministers have called for stricter sanctions against Russia's capitol. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was invited to address Saturday's summit of EU leaders.

NATO Secretary-General Ander Fogh Rasmussen said despite Moscow's hollow denials, "it is now clear that Russian equipment and personnel have illegally crossed the Ukrainian border. This is a "blatant violation" of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. NATO Secretary-General also states that it defies "all diplomatic efforts for a peaceful solution".

The death toll in the fighting reached nearly 2,600 as of Wednesday, said Ivan Simonovic, U.N. assistant secretary-general for human rights. He described the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine as "alarming," with people unable to leave cities caught up in the fighting.

The U.N. human rights office on Friday accused both sides of deliberately targeting civilians.

A spokesman for Ukraine's national security council, Col. Andriy Lysenko, stated that these actions are unacceptable, and have rejected the previous demands made by rebels, and or Russia: "Ukraine is not ready to surrender arms and kneel in front of the aggressor".

Tagssanctions against Russia, Ukraine, Russian soldiers in Ukraine, pro-Russian separatists