Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has convened an emergency meeting of the Military Office of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) in connection with the latest developments in the militant stronghold of Luhansk (ORLO), during which he heard reports from the heads of defense and law enforcement agencies and instructed to work with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to inform the Western allies, the presidential website has reported.

"The president was briefed on the latest developments by chief security officials, in particular concerning the illegal crossing of the Ukrainian border by a group of Russian tanks in the Krasnodon district of Luhansk region, as well as the increased incidence of provocations by militants," the presidential press service said on Tuesday evening.

The president also instructed the Ukrainian representative in the Ukrainian side of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) to intensify cooperation with the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to inform our Western allies.

"In connection with the increase in the number of Russian soldiers, as well as the activation of mercenaries, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are ready for any development of events to ensure the safety of civilians," Poroshenko said.