MS. PSAKI: Should we move to Ukraine?

QUESTION: One more question?

QUESTION: Yeah. It looks as if there were some Russian military movements close to the border, and I’m wondering if you see a pickup in the pace of Russian movement. Some units appear to be moving around, but have you reached any kind of assessment of what you think that is?

MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any assessment to offer from here. Obviously, we’ve seen the same reports. We’re watching it closely, as all of you know, and we’re certainly concerned about any Russian troop movements along the border, as we’ve been concerned about the tens of thousands of troops that have been lined up on the border in a threatening stance. So --

QUESTION: Well, when you say that you’ve seen the reports, are you saying that you have reports, meaning your own reporting, or are you looking at media reports that say that?

MS. PSAKI: Well, certainly we look at media reports that have said that. We also have our own reporting. I’m not going to outline that here.

QUESTION: But do you – I mean, without getting into troop movement numbers or anything like that, but when you say that you’ve seen reports and you say that you have your own reporting, do you have reporting about movement at the border?

MS. PSAKI: I’m not going to get into any other detail. It’s been publicly reported about troop movements.

QUESTION: Can I ask you a follow-up on that?

QUESTION: (Inaudible) yesterday.

QUESTION: Just to follow up on that. We’ve been – our reporters in Ukraine have been told specifically that three Russian helicopters crossed the borders today, by sources inside the Ukrainian Government. You say you’re not going to talk about troop movements on the other side of the border, but that would be quite a significant incursion if it happened and one that you would expect would be verifiable. I mean, can you comment at all on whether the U.S. has seen any evidence of that?

MS. PSAKI: I can’t confirm any of those details. I can say that any movement into Ukraine would be a grave mistake.

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QUESTION: Was it a coincidence that both times Kyiv ordered troops to east Ukraine came right on the heels of top U.S. officials’ visit to Kyiv? First time it was John Brennan and this time it was Vice President Joe Biden.

MS. PSAKI: I think --

QUESTION: Did Vice President Joe Biden advise Kyiv to take such action, or was it just a coincidence?

MS. PSAKI: I think you’re simply restating Foreign Minister Lavrov’s ludicrous claims from yesterday.

QUESTION: But what is the response? What is the response?

MS. PSAKI: I think we’re ready to move on to a new Ukraine question. Go ahead, Elise.

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QUESTION: Do you have any comments to the reports that Ukrainian military attacked (inaudible) in Slovyansk and there were five – two or five people killed?

MS. PSAKI: I do. I know there have been a range of reports. The Russians are actively distorting the facts to suit their own narrative. What actually happened was that last night approximately 70 separatists attacked an arms depot in Donestk. Ukrainian forces repelled the attack, but one Ukrainian soldier was wounded. In the aftermath of that attack, Ukrainian troops tried to clear a separatist checkpoint between the arms depot and the town of Slovyansk. Ukrainian reports indicate the separatists resisted with force and some were killed in ensuing – in the ensuing exchange of fire. Ukraine resumed its efforts to restore law and order after the capture and horrific torture of a member of the local council, kidnappings of journalists, and other provocations.

So this is the government – this is the country of Ukraine. There are aggressive actions that are being taken against military installments, against their people, and they are working to restore order.

QUESTION: And that comes from – that’s from independent – or from U.S. witnesses, that account that you just read?

MS. PSAKI: It is not U.S. witnesses. It is our view of what happened on the ground.

QUESTION: Based on?

MS. PSAKI: A range of reports and talking to our teams on the ground.

QUESTION: But does that mean – well, did it not come directly from the Ukrainian Government?

MS. PSAKI: In part, sure. Absolutely.

QUESTION: So --

MS. PSAKI: They’re part of the individuals we talk to.

QUESTION: Well, okay. But there’s two versions to all stories, so what makes you – if you – did you – are there U.S. officials there that will vouch for that – that sequence of events?

MS. PSAKI: That were in the military installments? Unlikely. But --

QUESTION: Well, that could confirm what the Government of Ukraine, which has a vested interest in presenting a narrative like that, has said.

MS. PSAKI: Well --

QUESTION: Or are you just buying what they – taking what they say and repeating it?

MS. PSAKI: Matt, I will say that we, of course, talk to a range of people on the ground.

QUESTION: Okay.