MOSCOW. March 18 (Interfax) - Kiev has amassed up to 5,000 troops in the border zone with Russia, President Vladimir Putin said.
"In all, the enemy amassed a group of up to 5,000 people in the border zone. It is not right on the state border line, but somewhere in their immediate rear. In all, the losses are about 40%, including 35% irretrievable," Putin told journalists.