'Thousands of Russians' fighting in Ukraine

A pro-Russian rebel leader in eastern Ukraine has said 3-4,000 Russian citizens are fighting in their ranks.

Alexander Zakharchenko told Russian TV many of the Russians were former servicepeople or current personnel on leave.

He was speaking as rebels captured the town of Novoazovsk and threatened to take the city of Mariupol, after opening a new front in the south-east.

Reports say they are advancing on the city, a key port on the Sea of Azov.

Ukraine says Russian forces have crossed the border and are supporting the rebel attack, but Moscow has repeatedly denied arming or covertly supporting the rebels.

There are suspicions that Russia wants to divert Ukrainian forces from the besieged cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, further north.

Government forces have made significant advances against the separatists in recent weeks.

Mr Zakharchenko, who is prime minister of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic, said Russian citizens were coming to Ukraine to fight because they felt it was their duty.

"There have been around 3,000-4,000 of them in our ranks," he said, adding that the rebels' struggle would have been much harder without them.

But he insisted that any Russians fighting on the rebel side were doing so voluntarily.

"Many former high-ranking military officers have volunteered to join us. They are fighting with us, considering that to be their duty," he said. 

BBC