Video footage has emerged from Russian state-controlled television reportedly shot inside the Donetsk airport in eastern Ukraine and showing troops with the insignia of the Russian Naval Infantry, or Russian Marines, on the soldiers' uniforms, according to reports from Ukraine Today, an independent Kiev-based TV station.

If true, the video further undermines Russia’s denial it is providing soldiers to fight alongside pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The Kremlin-backed TV station Rossiya 1 first broadcast the video on Jan. 15. The Ukraine government claims that about 700 Russian troops arrived in the country on Monday.



The footage — first analyzed by Russian internet news provider Lenta Novostiy — clearly shows a soldier in camouflage with the military insignia of the Russian Marines; but it’s unclear if that specific shot is from the Donetsk airport. The rest of the broadcast does show images of Donetsk airport, which has been devastated by months of fighting.

The insignia of the Russian Marines. Russia Defense Ministry

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk underlined his government’s belief Monday that the equipment used by the rebel fighters must have come from Russia when he said that the rebel’s artillery, anti-aircraft systems, and tanks “can’t be bought at a bazaar in Donetsk or the Russian Federation. They can only come from the stock of the Russian Defense Ministry.”

The battle for Donetsk airport has raged since September. The Ukrainian military held its position inside the airport's newly built terminal until last week, when two pro-Russian battalions encircled the key strategic location.

The attack resulted in a partial retreat of the Ukrainian soldiers. Conflicting reports emerged claiming that the rebels had captured the terminal, but the Ukrainian government denied them and said its troops were still in control.

Hostilities in eastern Ukraine ought to have been halted by a ceasefire signed last September in Minsk, Belarus, but have continued on and off while the ceasefire remained formally in place.

Fighting has intensified over the last week after peace talks due to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, were canceled. Russia, Ukraine, France, and Germany all agreed that not enough progress had been made since the Minsk ceasefire was signed.