Two Russian battalion task forces cross Ukrainian border

Two battalions of Russian troops have crossed the border from Russia into Ukraine.

The Information and Analytical Center of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine said it on Monday.

"According to the latest information of the National Security and Defense Council, today two battalion task forces of the Russian Federation were spotted crossing the Ukrainian Russian border," a statement issued by the center reads.

As it was reported earlier, the situation in the Donbas conflict zone remains difficult, according to Ukrainian officials, UNIAN reports.

Over the last day, Russian-backed militants have launched attacks using artillery and mortars on the settlements of Bohdanivka, Vuhlehirsk, Krasnohorivka, Kryakivka, Leninske, Mykolaivka, Novotoshkivka, Novgorod, Novotroitske, Oleksandrivske Orlovo-Ivanivka, Petrovske, Slovianoserbsk, Smile, Starohnativka, Tonenke, and Frunze. The most intense attacks were on Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske and Troitske.