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It has been reported that Russian tanks have been spotted moving into occupied territory in Crimea, which was seized following an operation carried out by Vladimir Putin's forces in 2014. Witnesses have reported large amounts of Russian military hardware massing near the towns of Dzhankoy and Armyansk in northern Crimea, close to the border with Ukraine. Norman Dzhelalov, deputy chairman of Crimean Tatar Mejlis – which represents the peninsula’s ethnic Tatar group, claimed on Facebook that tanks had arrived. He wrote: "Witnesses report that large groups of Russian military hardware have been massed near Armyansk and Dzhankoy.

GETTY Russia have reportedly moved tanks and engaged in a gunfight on the Ukranian border

Dzhankoy has been cordoned off by troops with tanks and other equipment Norman Dzhelalov

"Dzhankoy has been cordoned off by troops with tanks and other equipment." Video footage shows Russian armoured trucks and troop transporters as part of a large military convoy moving down the street. The footage uploaded to YouTube shows the vehicles moving through the city of Kerch near the Russian border. Russia also closed its checkpoints along the Crimean border with Ukraine on Sunday morning.

GETTY Russia has one of the world's largest and most advanced militaries

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The press centre of the State Border Service of Ukraine also confirmed the closure to the Unian news agency. It said: "The Russian occupying authorities suspended, for unknown reasons, the handling of citizens and vehicles crossing the administrative border with Crimea." A local journalist has also reported a deadly gun battle near the border town of Krasnoperekopsk in a Facebook post shared by Mr Dzhelalov. Elzara Abduramanova wrote: "I don’t want to create panic, but today, as far as possible, it is better to refrain from visits even inside of the Crimea."

GETTY Russian annexed part of the Crimea in 2014, triggering clashes with Ukrainian forces

Russian news site All Crimea reported the incident which allegedly killed one Russian on Sunday. They blamed the incident on Ukrainians trying to infiltrate the Russian-occupied peninsula, these claims were rubbished by Ukranian authorities. Vladislav Seleznyov, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army, accused Russia of making "provocative and untrue" claims. He said: "We are closely monitoring all processes taking place in the annexed territory of Crimea and will adequately respond to any aggressive action."

GETTY President Putin has been widely condemned for his actions in Ukraine

GETTY A tank operated by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine

In 2014 Russia made several military moves into Ukrainian territory, with Russian soldiers without any identifying marks on their uniforms taking control of key positions within Crimea. Despite condemnation from much of the world, with President Barack Obama leading global criticism of Mr Putin and his government. At a G20 summit of world leaders in Australia, then Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was said to have chastised Mr Putin over Ukraine. He allegedly told him: "I guess I'll shake your hand but I have only one thing to say to you: You need to get out of Ukraine." In October last year it was reported Russian elite units had been moved from Ukraine to Syria.

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