Ukraine announced Wednesday its redeploying of troops to the East because of growing fear that separatists in that area of the country will launch another offensive. Russia has repeatedly denied that it has sent in reinforcement troops for the rebels.

The ceasefire that was agreed on over two months ago by pro-Russian factions and its ruling government has all but deteriorated. Fears of the situation becoming an all-out conflict are growing in the West.

NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe and U.S. General Philip Breedlove said his surveillance had seen Russian troops and tanks being sent into Ukraine over the past several days, as other international observers had reported, Reuters reports.

"There is no question any more about Russia's direct military involvement in Ukraine," Breedlove said while in Bulgaria. "Russia's actions represent a clear decision by Moscow to reject the international principles that have shaped international security for over 25 years, the foundation for a Europe that is a whole free and at peace."

However, General-Major Igor Konashenkov of Russia's Defense Ministry said "there were and are no facts" supporting such information. He added Russia has given up on paying attention to such accusations from NATO.

Speaking of giving up on paying attention, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak also alluded that Ukraine was no longer believing denials from Moscow that they are involved in the rebels' actions.

"We are repositioning our armed forces to respond to the actions of the [rebel] fighters," Poltorak said at a government meeting in Kiev. "I see my main task is to prepare for military action."

Poltorak did not give any details of his troops' movements.

The ceasefire, agreed to on Sept. 5, ended weeks of fighting between government forces and mainly Russian-speaking separatists who rebelled from Kiev's Western-looking government eight months ago. This truce has been violated daily, especially since Nov. 2 when rebels held elections, which the West called illegitimate. The death toll since the agreement to end the violence has surpassed 4,000.

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