Russia closes three border crossings into eastern Ukraine

KIEV, Ukraine, July 2 (UPI) -- Russia has closed three border crossings along Ukraine's eastern region, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine reported Wednesday.

Speaking at a briefing in Kiev, NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko announced "Yesterday in the course of the day Russia shut three checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. In particular, on July 1 the international motor vehicle crossing points at Hukovo, Donetsk, and Novoshakhtynsk of Rostov region were closed."

Ukraine, he said, was informed "there is a ban on letting armed militants escaping from the territory of Ukraine through these motor vehicle crossing points."

A spokesman for Russia's Federal Security Service's Border Guard administration confirmed to Interfax-South that the border crossings had been closed due to violent unrest in Ukraine.

The closure of the border crossing comes amid heightened tension between the two countries and repeated requests by Ukraine that Russia stop the flow of fighters and weapons into eastern Ukraine.