The pictures and video which have surfaced on the Internet, showing the 21st Russian region and soldiers without insignia on Ukrainian territory, admitting they were from Russia, are provocations, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
“Of course, these are provocations,” Shoigu told reporters, when asked what the pictures of the soldiers were.
Asked about the video clips with the soldiers’ admissions, Shoigu said: “No, this is total nonsense.”
Asked whether there were any Russian troops in Crimea, the minister reiterated: “No, absolutely no (troops).”
As regards Crimean self-defense units having Tiger and Rys (Lynx) armored vehicles, the defense minister said he ‘has no idea’ where these were coming from.
