Satellite images showing Russian forces engaged in military operations inside Ukraine with tanks and sophisticated weaponry have been released by Nato.

A convoy of Russian armed vehicles and artillery is seen rolling through Krasnodon in Luhansk oblast on 21 August and setting up firing positions in the separatist-controlled region.

Nato said the configuration was “exactly how trained military professionals would arrange their assets on the ground”, indicating that the soldiers were not amateur rebels but Russian soldiers.

Similar Russian artillery systems have recently shelled Ukrainian positions outside the city of Luhansk in as rebels pushed back against a siege by Government forces.

Nato claimed the latest satellite pictures clearly showed Russian forces were “preparing for action” in the Ukrainian countryside.

Russian self-propelled artillery units set up in firing positions near Krasnodon, Ukraine. (Nato)

Dutch Brigadier General Nico Tak, director of the Comprehensive Crisis and Operations Management Centre (CCOMC) in Nato’s Allied Command Operations said the images confirmed what had been seen for weeks from other sources.

“Over the past two weeks we have noted a significant escalation in both the level and sophistication of Russia's military interference in Ukraine,” he said.

“The satellite images provide additional evidence that Russian combat soldiers, equipped with sophisticated heavy weaponry, are operating inside Ukraine's sovereign territory.”

Brigadier General Tak said it was the “tip of the iceberg” in terms of the overall scope of Russia troop and weapon deployment in rebel-controlled areas.

“We have also detected large quantities of advanced weapons, including air defence systems, artillery, tanks, and armoured personnel carriers being transferred to separatist forces in eastern Ukraine,” said he said.

“The presence of these weapons along with substantial numbers of Russian combat troops inside Ukraine make the situation increasingly grave.”

Images of activity along the border were also released, showing Russian long-range guns pointing towards Ukrainian territory.

Six Russian 153mm 2S19 self-propelled guns located in Russia near Kuybyshevo, four miles south of the Ukraine border (Nato)

Nato believes Putin’s forces are carrying out operations in direct support to forces operating inside Ukraine as part of a “highly coordinated and destabilising strategy”.

Brigadier General Tak said: “Russia is reinforcing and resupplying separatist forces in a blatant attempt to change the momentum of the fighting, which is currently favouring the Ukrainian military.

“Its ultimate aim is to alleviate pressure on separatist fighters in order to prolong this conflict indefinitely, which would result in further tragedy for the people of Eastern Ukraine.”

More than 2,200 people, including at least 23 children, have been killed since the start of the Ukrainian conflict earlier this year, when pro-Russian separatists overthrew authorities in many areas after the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Vladimir Putin and his officials have long rebuffed accusations of Russian involvement in the violence but the latest images will be more difficult to deny.

Wider overview of the self-propelled guns located in Russia near Kuybyshevo, pointing towards Ukraine. (Nato)

The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, acknowledged reports about the satellite images on Friday but claimed previous imagery was from video games and the Nato photos "happen to be much the same quality".

“It’s not the first time we've heard wild guesses, though facts have never been presented so far,” he said according to Russia Today.

“We’ll react by remaining persistent in our policies to stay bloodshed and give a start to the nationwide dialogue and negotiations about the future of Ukraine."

Speaking after the US had lambasted Russia in an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, Barack Obama did not propose military intervention but said the “ongoing Russian incursion into Ukraine will only bring more costs and consequences for Russia”.

He said Chancellor Angela Merkel had agreed that Russia was “responsible for the violence in eastern Ukraine”.

The President added: “The violence is encouraged by Russia. The separatists are trained by Russia. They are armed by Russia. They are funded by Russia.

“Russia has deliberately and repeatedly violated the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

“And the new images of Russian forces inside Ukraine make that plain for the world to see.”

Clashes in eastern Ukraine Show all 126 1 /126 Clashes in eastern Ukraine Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine 'Azov' batallion soldiers capture pro-Russian activists after taking control over city of Mariupol in Donetsk EPA Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian supporters stand in front of the Russian embassy during a protest in Kiev EPA Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kiev Activists of Maidan self-defense and Right Sector ultra-nationalist organization attend a commemoration ceremony devoted for Ukrainian soldiers killed when a military cargo plane was shot down EPA Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed Ukrainian soldier looks around while guarding at a checkpoint not far of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk An Orthodox priest holds a service during a funeral ceremony in front of the local administration building in Kramatorsk for Viktor Gagulin, a Pro-Russian supporter, who was killed during an anti terrorist operation, Kramatorsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Awaiting of pro-Russian separatists is ongoing at the government building seized by Russian supporters in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Odessa A woman bearing flowers during the rally to mourn for victims of clashes in Odessa, outside Moscow's Kremlin AP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Odessa Pro-Russian activists mourn during the funeral of Vyacheslav Markin, the deputy of the city regional council and leader of the pro-Russian opposition, who perished during a clash between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists AFP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian militants escort a blindfolded man outside the regional state building they seized AFP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian Cossacks eat a dinner outside the regional administration building in Donetsk AP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk At least three people were killed and several were injured in clashes between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern city of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands near a Ukrainian checkpoint near the town of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian military helicopter lands at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A Ukrainian soldier looks on at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the eastern town of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Soldiers guard a checkpoint 25 kilometers from the city of Slavyansk. Militants in Slavyansk are keeping dozens of hostages, including seven European military observers, who were detained in the city while on a verification mission under the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked Ukrainian soldier takes position at a checkpoint which troops seized in the early morning in the village of Andreevka, 7 kms from the centre of the southern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk. Ukraine's military lost two helicopters and two servicemen in a deadly offensive launched just before dawn against pro-Russian rebels holding the flashpoint town of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters try to destroy a Ukraine national flag outside the regional prosecutor's office in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian separatists seize the Prosecution Office in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers stand near a tank at a checkpoint near the south eastern Ukrainain city of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Ukrainian soldiers guard a roadblock along the highway near Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian militia attack the regional police building of Lugansk. Fresh violence erupted in eastern Ukraine after Moscow hit back at "Iron Curtain"-style Western sanctions AFP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A resident walks through a barricaded area around the security services building. The pro-Russian activists have taken control of the state administration building and the police station Getty Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian activist stands guard outside the security services building. The area around the building has become a barricaded camp occupied by the pro-Russians Getty Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An armed pro-Russian activist stands guard at a checkpoint. Fresh violence has erupted in eastern Ukraine as thousands of pro-Russian protesters stormed key buildings AFP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kiev Members of the protest group 'Self Defense of Maidan' stand on a barricade as they prepare to stop ultra-nationalist activists from marching through Independence Square in Kiev EPA Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kiev Pro-Ukrainian activists draw a giant map of Ukraine in front of the Parliament building, marking territories which could be lost as a result of the armed separatists' activity EPA Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian activist gets medical attention after a clash with pro-government activists during a rally and march Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists clash with pro-government supporters during a rally and march in Donetsk. Several people were injured when the pro-Russian activists attacked a pro-government march Getty Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester walks in front of riot police during a pro-Ukraine rally in the eastern city of Donetsk. Several people were wounded when what appeared to be stun grenades exploded during a rally in support of Ukrainian unity in the eastern, separatist-held city Reuters Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Ukrainian supporters attending a rally in Donetsk. Around 1,000 people took part in a march for supporting of a Single Ukraine and were attacked by pro-Russian protesters EPA Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man poses for a photograph with a child as he stands guard outside a regional administration building seized in the night by pro-Russian separatists AFP/Getty Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russian armed man holds his weapon in front of the seized town administration building in Kostyantynivka Armed pro-Russian separatists who took control of the police headquarters in the east Ukrainian town of Kostyantynivka have also seized the town administration building Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kostyantynivka A pro-Russia armed man aims his rifle in front of the seized city council building in Kostyantynivka Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian Ukrainian presidential candidate Oleg Tsarev (2-L) of the 'Party of Regions' party is accompanied by security personnel as he arrives to speak to journalists during a press briefing in Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A man reacts near a coffin containing the body of man killed in a gunfight, during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Foreign military observers are escorted by pro-Russian militants to attend a press conference in city hall, of Slovyansk, eastern Ukraine AP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk An armed pro-Russian protestor gestures as he stands guard on a checkpoint near Krasnyi Liman, in the Donetsk area Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian soldier smokes his cigarette in front of an armoured personnel carrier at a checkpoint in the village of Malinivka, east of Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists walk past a anti-US and EU banner near the occupied Security Service building in Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A Ukrainian security force officer is deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Ukrainian security force officers are deployed at a checkpoint set on fire and left by pro-Russian separatists near Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman seen during his duty on a street in the center of Slovyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian masked gunman patrols a street in the center of Slovyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend their rally near of a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk An woman holds a Russian flag as she sits next to an elderly women inside a compound created by barricades which surround the Donetsk Regional Administration Building in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro Russia militia carry a casket bearing Pavel Pavelko (42) one of three pro Russia militiamen killed in a shooting by unknown gunmen at a checkpoint, during his funeral procession in Alexandrovska village near Slovyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Supporters of the Communist Party of Ukraine meet near the monument of former Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin in Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk A masked man in military fatigues brings a blindfolded Irma Krat, arrested and held by pro-Russian protestors before her meeting with journalists near of occupied police station in Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian activists are demanding broader autonomy from Kiev and closer ties to Russia and continue to occupy government, police and other administrative buildings in eastern Ukrainian cities, in defiance of an ultimatum by the Ukrainian government to lay down their weapons Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Russia, the United States, the European Union and Ukraine had agreed on steps to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine during talks in Geneva, Switzerland Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Valeriy Bolotov (R) new people's governor of Luhansk, speaks to the media after he was pronounced the "people's governor" inside the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk An orthodox priest sprinkles a holy water over a group of people during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Bodies of men killed in a gunfight are seen in coffins during a funeral ceremony in Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk An activist shows ammunition near burned out vehicles in front of a pro-Russian blockade near Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A masked man guards the entrance of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists during a rally in Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Soviet army veteran Yuri stands outside a regional government building in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Defiant Pro-Russian supporters react during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A tearful pro-Russian supportes during the singing of the Russian national hymn during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Soviet flag is seen on a barricade outside a regional government building in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slaviansk Pro-Russian armed men walk past activists hanging up a "Donetsk Republic" flag outside the mayor's office in Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A man in military fatigues hugs a woman and a child during a rally in front of the Security Service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed Pro-Russian man poses for a photo with local children next to barricades in front of city hall in Slovyansk AFP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk The seperatist leader of the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, holds up the pictures of two pro-Russia militants killed the day before in a gunbattle with unidentified attackers, as he holds a press conference in Slavyansk AFP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukrainian Christian worshipers carry crosses as they march around the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Luhansk People rest under a tent next to barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk Reuters Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk A masked man holds a gun as as other armed people stand near tanks in Slaviansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk An Orthodox icon is displayed on barricades in front of a city parliament in Slovyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Armed men wearing military fatigues gather by Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as they stand guard outside the regional state building seized by pro-Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Masked pro-Russian gunmen attack a photojournalist near combat vehicles flying a Russian flag, in downtown of Slovyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slavyansk Men wearing military fatigues sit by a Russian flag and a white flag reading "People's volunteer corps of Donetsk" as they ride on an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian soldiers clash with pro-Russia protesters in a field near Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk Ukrainian General Genady Krutov (C) talks to journalists in front of an Ukrainian airbase in Kramatorsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A woman wearing a national flower crown looks back as she attends a pro-Ukrainian rally in Luhansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Ukrainian soldiers stand guard near a military helicopter, near the Izyum city in Kharkiv area Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russia activists throw stones as they storm the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Pro-Russian men storm a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Masked pro-Russian men attack British photojournalist Frederick Paxton during the mass storming of a police station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Horlivka Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Ukrainian police try to stop pro-Russia activists from storming the regional police building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Horlivka (Gorlovka), near Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian fighter guards a barricade bearing the Russian flag on the road leading to the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk AFP/Getty Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Armed pro-Russia protesters prepare for the battle with Ukrainian police special team on the outskirts the eastern Ukrainian city of Slavyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russian activists escort a man (unseen) who they say is a provocateur outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Pro-Russia supporters surround a man who they say is a provocateur (C) outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk Armed pro-Russian supporters carry an Eastern Orthodox icon of Mary Magdalene outside the secret service building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk Pro-Russian activists occupy the police station carrying riot shields as people watch on, in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kramatorsk, near Slovyansk The interior minister overnight reported an attack on a police in the city of Kramatorsk, close to the city of Slovyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman stands guard at a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Slovyansk A pro-Russian gunman carries a mattress in a seized police station in the eastern Ukraine town of Slovyansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Lugansk A pro-Russian supporter flashes the 'V'-sign during a rally in front of the security service building occupied by Pro-Russian activists in Lugansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian supporters clash with supporters of Single Ukraine in downtown Kharkiv Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Luhansk An effigy depicting Ukrainian politician and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko is hanged on a advertisement board in front of the offices of the SBU state security service in Luhansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian protesters set a barbed wire on a barricade outside the SBU state security service in Luhansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Luhansk A masked pro-Russian activist stands in front of barricades at the Ukrainian regional office of the Security Service in Luhansk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Luhansk Pro-Russian separatists reinforced barricades around the state security building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk and called on President Vladimir Putin for help after the government warned it could use force to restore order Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A Pro-Russian activist wears a hand-made mask behind a barricade in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters hold placards reading 'Freedom for detained heroes!' during a rally near the district court in Kharkiv Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Policemen leave their position from the regional administration building in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally near the district court in Kharkiv. Meanwhile, Russia rejected accusations that it was massing troops for an invasion of Ukraine and accused the West of making 'baseless' claims and waging an anti-Russian campaign Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv A view of the interior of the Kharkiv regional state administration chancery after being destroyed by pro-Russian protesters. Ukrainian policemen were injured as a result of an operation to free the administration building from pro-Russian separatists. Ukraine's acting president said on April 8 he would treat Russian separatists who have seized buildings in the east of the country as "terrorists" who will be prosecuted with the full force of the law Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters throw stones at an Interior Ministry bus near the regional administration building in Kharkiv. Ukrainian police cleared pro-Moscow protesters from a regional administration building in a lightning night-time operation, but others held out in two more eastern cities in what Kiev says is a Russian-led plan to dismember the country. Shots were fired, a grenade thrown and 70 people detained as officers ended the occupation in the city of Kharkiv during an 18 minute "anti-terrorism" action Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Armed men in masks, representing Ukrainian special forces, stand guard outside the regional administration building in Kharkiv Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters burn tires near of a regional administration building after police cleared it in Kharkiv. Protesters are demanding a referendum on the status of the Kharkiv region, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian activists hold red flags with the communist hammer and sickle and the soviet "USSR" initals during a rally at the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters (L) clash with activists (R) supporting the territorial integrity of Ukraine as Interior Ministry members (C) attempt to break them apart during rallies in the eastern city of Kharkiv Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Kharkiv Pro-Russian protesters and police officers surround a group of around fifteen ultra-nationalist Right Sector group members (C) during a rally in Kharkiv. Several hundred pro-Russian protesters surrounded the group of ultra-nationalists and forced them to march down a steep hill on their knees in what appeared to be a humiliation ritual that drew no police response during the rally in eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester holds a placard bearing a crossed out "Nato" during a rally in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters wave Russian flags during their rally in downtown Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade set at the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Ukraine's embattled prime minister accused Russia of trying to "dismember" his country by plotting seizures of government buildings in eastern regions that are seeking to break away from Kiev Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists outside the Ukrainian regional Security Service building on the eastern city of Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters are calling for former President Yanukovych to return to Ukraine and to hold a referendum on the status of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, similar to the recently held referendum in Crimea Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters stand next to a barricade in front of the occupied regional administration building in Donetsk. According to reports, pro-Russian demonstrators stormed the administration building in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Protesters set up a barricade inside an occupied regional administration building in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russia protester sets on fire an effigy depicting Stepan Bandera, one of the founders of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, during a rally in Donetsk Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian masked activist waves a Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, where a large group of people surged into the provincial government building and smashed windows. A gathering of several hundred, many of them waving Russian flags, then listened to speeches delivered from a balcony emblazoned with a banner reading a "Donetsk Republic" Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a huge Russian national flag in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists hold a rally in front of Ukraine's regional security service of Ukraine in Lugansk Getty Images Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building Getty Images Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian activists evacuate a wounded following clashes with anti-riot forces after storming the Regional Security Service of Ukraine Getty Images Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine EPA Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Around 100 pro-Russian protesters stormed the regional government building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Reuters Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk People clash with police at the regional administration building in Donetsk, Ukraine AP Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian protesters attend a rally in Odessa, Ukraine EPA Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk A pro-Russian protester waves a Russian flag behind policemen near the regional government building in Donetsk Reuters Clashes in eastern Ukraine Ukraine crisis: Donetsk Pro-Russian supporters clash with members of the riot police as they storm the regional administration building in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk Getty Images

While he did not use the word “invasion”, others were more blunt, with Lithuania’s UN Ambassador, Raimonda Murmokaite, tweeting ahead of the Security Council meeting: “An invasion is an invasion is an invasion.”

The Russian Ambassador, Vitaly Churkin did not deny that his country’s soldiers were in Ukraine but said the Kiev Government was “waging war against its own people”.