Are Russian Soldiers Taking Selfies In Ukraine?

VICE News: Selfie Soldiers: Russia Checks in to Ukraine

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, so too does Russian President Vladimir Putin's denial of any Russian involvement. But a recent report from think tank the Atlantic Council used open source information and social media to find evidence of Russian troops across the border.

Using the Atlantic Council's methodology, VICE News correspondent Simon Ostrovsky follows the digital and literal footprints of one Russian soldier, tracking him from eastern Ukraine to Siberia, to prove that Russian soldiers are fighting in Ukraine.

WNU Editor: It should be noted that The Atlantic Council is NATO supported .... but its analysis of postings of Russian soldiers in Ukraine is something that I (and many others in Russian social media) have also been following since the height of the Ukraine conflict in August of last year. The images taken with the cell phone that are geo-tag have also made the rounds .... and some of them have been located within eastern Ukraine .... but not in great numbers. What does this mean .... as I have said more than once .... are there 10,000 Russian soldiers in Ukraine .... no. Are there a few hundred Russian Special Forces, a few regular troops, Chechen military personnel, etc. .... yes. Social media has given proof that the Russian military is in Ukraine .... but it has also given proof that it is not in the numbers that NATO and the Ukraine government are claiming. Interestingly .... some in Russian social media have tried to use the same methods to track U.S./NATO personnel in Ukraine .... but it has been difficult .... apparently these military personnel have been explicitly warned to not take selfies.