BRUSSELS—Fighting in eastern Ukraine is fiercer than ever in some locations, NATO’s top commander in Europe said Thursday — adding that the weapons systems seen now in the region have in the past heralded a fresh incursion by Russian troops.
“Violence has intensified and changed character in Ukraine,” U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove told a news conference at NATO headquarters. He said the fighting has re-escalated to levels seen before the Sept. 5 Minsk cease-fire agreement “and in some cases beyond.”
Questioned by reporters, Breedlove, the alliance’s chief commander in Europe, said he couldn’t confirm Ukrainian authorities’ statements that 9,000 Russian troops had entered the country.
“(But) what we do see is that the Russian-backed forces have renewed capability now to bring pressure on the Ukrainian forces, and have in several places moved the line of contact to the west,” he added.
