In April Ukrainian Army officials revealed that they were tracking the Russian units operating in eastern Ukraine.
At that time Ukrainian intelligence had identified portions of the Russian 15th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, 8th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, 331st Airborne Regiment and the 98th Airborne Division operating inside Ukraine.
It was noted that Russia moves these units in and out, rarely keeping Russian units in eastern Ukraine for more than a few months.
There are some attempts to hide the fact that these Russian soldiers are Russians, but these efforts are not diligently carried out and given all the cell phone cameras around it is easier for anti-Russian civilians in rebel controlled areas to collect and pass on evidence.
NATO intelligence analysts earlier noted that the Russians have been forced to use most of their few capable combat units to support their attempt to seize portions of eastern Ukraine. Thus the Russians have sent in about twenty percent of their combat brigades, usually the most effective (Spetsnaz and airborne) and experienced (ones recently in the Caucasus).
For most of the last year parts of at least three of these brigades have been detected inside eastern Ukraine at any one time. At least fifteen combat brigades have had some of their troops in Ukraine during 2014.
These brigades represent the best Russia has, as the rest of the army is crippled by inexperience and shortages of personnel and equipment.
Russia is still trying to replace obsolete and worn out Cold War era weapons and equipment.
