Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (CLICK TO ENLARGE):
U.S. To Preposition Tanks, Artillery In Baltics, Eastern Europe
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says Washington will preposition tanks, artillery, and other military equipment in Eastern and Central Europe, in a move to reassure NATO allies concerned by Russia's intervention in Ukraine.
Carter, during a trip to Estonia's capital, Tallinn, said on June 23 that the Baltic states -- Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia -- as well as Bulgaria, Romania, and Poland have agreed to host elements of this equipment.
Some of the equipment would also be located in Germany.
A fact sheet provided by the U.S. military said the United States' prepositioning would include about 250 tanks, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and self-propelled howitzers.
The amount of equipment that would be temporarily stored in each country would be enough to supply either a company -- enough for about 150 soldiers -- or a battalion -- about 750 soldiers.
Officials say much of the equipment is already in Europe.
A Russian Defense Ministry official said stationing tanks and heavy weapons in NATO states on Russia's border would be the most aggressive U.S. act since the Cold War.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Just in from RFE/RL's News Desk:
The Ukrainian military says one serviceman was killed in fighting in the east over the past 24 hours, while separatists accused government forces of killing three civilians in the areas controlled by the pro-Russian rebels.
Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said at a briefing on June 23, "As a result of fighting in the past 24 hours, one of our soldiers has been killed and another 12 have been injured."
Three Ukraine Civilians Reported Killed Ahead Of Paris Talks
Ukrainian rebels on June 23 accused government forces of killing three civilians in attacks launched hours before the start of talks in Paris on ways to stop the separatist conflict.
Kyiv's military command was due to report its own losses later June 23.
Commanders and political leaders of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic said the strikes started on June 22 and continued through the night.
The fighting has pushed to more than 60 the number of soldiers and civilians killed this month.
Foreign ministers from Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France are due to meet in Paris later on June 23 in the hope of calming the latest upsurge in violence that has claimed some 6,500 lives since erupting in March 2014.
The meeting comes as clashes threaten to spiral into all-out conflict after a three-month lull that followed a German- and French-brokered cease-fire deal in February in Minsk.