Ukraine defence minister resigns, rumours of border tensions with Russia grow

Ukraine has denied reports that Russia may be expanding its military presence along the eastern border with the country as conflict related to pro-Moscow separatists continues to simmer. The official government statement that Ukranian Defence Minister Andry Taran resigned came shortly after dismissal of military buildup rumours.

Christiaan Triebert of the New York Times had tweeted a series of satellite images taken on Tuesday which purportedly show Russian tanks, APCs and self-propelled artillery as part of a large ground-deployment near Yelnya in Russia. The Ukranian government however says that the videos could comprise "special informational and psychological actions" and show a planned troop movement after a Russian military exercise.

Russia too has quashed any rumours of increased military activity around the borders with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that such "low quality" claims were a waste of time. Taran has reportedly resigned on 'health grounds' according to Davyd Arakhamiia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's faction in parliament. The former defense minister has been at his post since March 2020, leaving just before the projected reshuffle of cabinet posts.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that the US had affirmed its total support for the "territorial integrity" and independence of Ukraine at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow where he met American President Joe Biden and had a formal meeting with the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Conflict with pro-Russian separatists has cost 13,000 lives to date and led to Moscow massing around 100,000 troops near the border with Ukraine earlier this year, which it pulled back after global criticism. Ukraine has accused Russia of aiding and arming the separatists who became emboldened after Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014.