Ukraine War News Updates -- March 5, 2015

BBC: Russian soldiers 'dying in large numbers' in Ukraine - Nato

Nato's deputy chief says Russian leaders are less and less able to conceal the deaths of "large numbers" of Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine.

Alexander Vershbow said Russia's involvement was becoming more unpopular with the Russian public as a result.

Russian officials dismissed on Thursday a US claim that Moscow had sent "thousands and thousands" of troops to fight alongside separatists.

A foreign ministry spokesman said the figures were "plucked out of the air".

Ukraine War News Updates -- March 5, 2015

NATO: Many Russian Soldiers Dying in E. Ukraine -- VOA
Russia's actions in Ukraine conflict an 'invasion', says US official -- The Guardian
US official: Russia's actions in Ukraine conflict an 'invasion' -- The Hill
US Envoy: Thousands of Russian Troops in East Ukraine -- AFP
Evidence mounting of Russian troops in Ukraine -- Deutsche Welle
Russia denies US claim of 'thousands' of troops in Ukraine -- AFP
US Soldiers Readying for Ukraine Deployment -- Defense News
Russia denounces arrival of U.S. military trainers in Ukraine -- L.A. Times
Officials to Discuss Next Steps in Ukraine Peace Deal -- VOA
Ukraine accuses rebels of violating ceasefire -- RTE
Ukraine military says one soldier killed in past 24 hours in east -- Reuters
OSCE Says Ukraine Violence Easing, But Weapons Withdrawal Not Clear -- WSJ
Ukraine Arms Pullback Proceeds as Economy Poised for Plunge -- Bloomberg
Ukraine crisis: Mariupol a city on the edge as residents anticipate invasion by Russian-backed forces once the fragile ceasefire end -- The Independent
The women fighting on the frontline in Ukraine -- The Guardian
Ukraine passes law to boost armed forces by a third -- Reuters
Ukraine to Boost Armed Forces by a Third -- Newsweek
Ukrainian Parliament increasing size of army -- UPI
Obama Administration Increasingly Divided Over Arms to Ukraine -- Bloomberg
U.S. officials weigh defensive weapons, training for Ukraine -- CNN
Boehner, bipartisan group pressure Obama on Ukraine -- AP
U.S. Lawmakers Call on Obama to Provide Lethal Aid to Ukraine -- WSJ
Boehner, bipartisan lawmakers urge Obama to arm Ukraine -- CNN
Ukraine Needs US to Buy Arms on World Market -- Sputnik
Ukraine-Russia Border Traffic: Ceasefire Causing More Ukrainians To Return Than Flee, OSCE Says -- IBTimes
Nato expansion and the Ukraine conflict -- The Guardian