CRI听力:Ukraine Crisis: NATO Says Russian Combat Forces Operate inside Ukraine

NATO says it has satellite imagery showing Russian combat forces are engaged in military operations inside Ukraine.

NATO Brigadier General Nico Tak says more than a thousand Russian troops are operating inside Ukraine.

He says they have images showing they're fighting on the side of the separatists.

"Over the past two weeks we have noted a significant escalation in both the level and sophistication of Russia's military interference in Ukraine. The satellite images released today provide additional evidence that Russian combat soldiers, equipped with sophisticated heavy weaponry, are operating inside Ukraine's sovereign territory."

Moscow has consistently denied any involvement in eastern Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is alarmed by the escalation.

Stephane Dujarric is his lead spokesperson.

"The Secretary-General is alarmed by reports that fighting in eastern Ukraine has spread southward, near the border of the Sea of Azov and the Russian Federation. If confirmed, this will mark a dangerous escalation of the crisis in Ukraine."

The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting in New York to discuss the crisis.

The US and UK are accusing Russia of a clear violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory.

Russia's UN ambassador says the crisis is a direct consequence of the reckless policies put forward by Kiev.

The European Union is set to meet tomorrow to discuss further sanctions against Russia.