Nato commander claims Russian forces are still in Ukraine

After discussions with Ukrainian leaders, a NATO commander revealed on Wednesday that Russian military are still active in eastern Ukraine.

The Russians are playing a key role in maintaining the separatists' efforts, according to the commander, and have been operating against the Kiev government.

General Philip Breedlove from the US Air Force told Reuters that Russia’s “militarisation” of the Crimea peninsula, which it annexed from Ukraine in March, has enabled Moscow to dominate the entire Black Sea area.

Breedlove explained that Russia is helping the rebels “understand the advanced weaponry that is being brought across”, and claimed that the nation is “training, equipping, giving backbone… helping (separatist) forces in the field”.

The US has been watching for any signs that nuclear assets cross into the peninsula since a Russian defense ministry announcement caused concern last March.