Russia asks envoys to visit town allegedly hit by Ukraine shelling

An Emergencies Ministry member looks at a damaged building following what locals say was recent shelling by Ukrainian forces in the settlement of Maryinka outside Donetsk, on July 12, 2014. Russia has asked military attaches from 18 countries in
An Emergencies Ministry member looks at a damaged building following what locals say was recent shelling by Ukrainian forces in the settlement of Maryinka outside Donetsk, on July 12, 2014. Russia has asked military attaches from 18 countries including the United States to visit a town in the Rostov region on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 where Moscow says a shell fired from across the border in Ukraine killed one person. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

MOSCOW (REUTERS) - Russia has asked military attaches from 18 countries including the United States to visit a town in the Rostov region on Tuesday where Moscow says a shell fired from across the border in Ukraine killed one person.

The planned visit appeared part of a war of words between Ukraine and Russia intended to win international backing in the conflict between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists who have risen up in eastern Ukraine.

"The Defence Ministry of the Russian Federation has decided to familiarise foreign military specialists with the real situation in Donetsk in the Rostov region ... which (on Sunday) suffered destruction from artillery fire and shelling from Ukrainian territory," a ministry spokesman said.

Itar-Tass news agency quoted a defence official as saying military attaches from the other permanent members of the UN Security Council - France, Britain and China - were also invited.

Ukraine has denied the Russian charges that Ukrainian government forces fired across the border. It says the separatist rebels systematically fire across the border into Russia to try to provoke Russian military intervention.

Moscow's angry response to the incident and reports of Russian troops being moved up to the border raised again the prospect of Russian intervention, after weeks in which President Vladimir Putin had appeared intent on disengaging.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.