US not confirming Russian incursion in Ukraine

 The United States said Friday it could not confirm reports of a new Russian military incursion in eastern Ukraine despite charges to that effect by the Kiev government, AFP reports.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Russian battle tanks, armored vehicles and cargo trucks had been seen Thursday at a rail yard about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from the border.

A Ukrainian military spokesman said Friday that a column of 32 tanks, 16 howitzer artillery and 30 truckloads of troops crossed into the separatist-controlled Lugansk region.

Psaki said the United States did not have "independent confirmation" of the reports, but voiced Washington's dismay.

"If confirmed, the United States condemns this most recent incursion into Ukrainian territory," she said. "It would be another blatant violation of the Minsk agreement signed by Russia and the separatists."

Kiev said five soldiers were killed in the latest bout of fighting despite a ceasefire with the rebels, and fears grew of a return to all-out fighting.

Washington for months has denounced the presence of Russian soldiers and weapons in eastern Ukraine in support of separatist forces.

"Russian forces and weapons must be withdrawn from Ukraine, Ukrainian sovereignty must be restored along the Ukrainian side of the international border, and that border needs to be monitored by the OSCE, and all hostages must be released immediately," Psaki said, referring to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.