No Signs of Russian Military Activity Detected on Border With Ukraine

Turkish military experts concluded that no military activity was detected in Russia's Rostov Region on the border with Ukraine.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Turkish military experts have found no signs of military activity in Russia’s Rostov Region on the border with Ukraine, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's treaty control department said Tuesday.

“A group of Turkish military experts has completed the inspection of an area in the Rostov Region. Commenting on the results, the head of the Turkish verification center, Col. Murat Dikkas, said that no military activity was detected in this area,” Sergei Ryzhkov said.

Turkish experts have inspected a zone measuring 16,000 square meters (over 170,000 square feet) that they chose on their own.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Turkish experts would conduct an investigation to determine whether there was "military action" in the Rostov region, covering 14,000 square kilometers.

This is the second foreign check in Rostov since the beginning of 2015. Ukrainian military experts, who conducted an investigation in the region on February 9-12, also found no signs of unusual military activity. The Ukrainian side inspected 15,000 square kilometers (9,320 square miles).

The third foreign check, currently carried out by the Netherlands is scheduled to be completed on Friday. The inspection will cover a total of about 18,000 square kilometers.

The West and Ukraine have repeatedly accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to eastern Ukraine's pro-independence forces. Russia has repeatedly denied these claims as groundless.