Donbass asks Russia for help against Ukraine. The leaders of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics, Denis Pushlin and Leonid Bashnik, asked the Russian President Russian President Vladimir Putin “Assistance to repel the aggression of the Ukrainian forces” in the Donbass and to avoid civilian casualties. This was announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

“These measures of the Kiev regime testify to the unwillingness to put an end to the war in Donbass,” Peskov said, citing the letter sent by the two leaders, in which they later denounced. “The Kiev regime – they accused – wants to resolve the conflict by force.”

“Ukraine – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Olipa wrote on Twitter – Request to convene an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council After Moscow’s appeal to the Russian-occupied administrations of Donetsk and Luhansk to provide military assistance, which is a further escalation of the security situation.”

He said Donbass separatist leaders’ call for Russia to intervene against “aggression in Kiev” is an “example of Operation False Flag,” an excuse that Moscow wants to use to justify an attack on Ukraine. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki briefing reporters.

“We certainly think other Russian forces are entering the area, not outside that area, that’s what we’re seeing,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said of more Russian military personnel arriving in Donbass. “We can’t confirm the numbers with great accuracy, in what formation they are and what their capabilities are – added Kirby – but we certainly think it does.”