Russian Troops Massing on Ukraine Border
COSTELLO: Tensions are mounting in Ukraine. U.S. officials say up to 40,000 Russian troops have amassed near the Ukrainian border. Those troops and Russia's recent annexation of Crimea are sparking fears of a further military incursion. Speaking to CBS News, President Obama expressed concern.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You've seen a range of troops massing along that border under the guise of military exercises. But these are not what Russia would normally be doing. And you know, it may simply be an effort to intimidate Ukraine or may be that they have additional plans.</s>COSTELLO: CNN's Karl Penhaul joins me now from the Russia-Ukrainian border. And this is an amazing report. Take it away Karl.</s>KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol we are just a few miles that way from the Russian border. We are in northeastern Ukraine right now. What I want to show you we have moved a few miles up the road from where we were last hour that I spoke to you. Behind me, a Ukrainian armored personnel carrier with machine guns mounted on the front of it is as well. That is being dug into a defensive position. There are other positions a little further up the road that Ukrainian military doesn't really want me to show you. There is a TAC tank, there's other hardware there as well. And they're in this position here to defend a strategic bridge -- a strategic bridge inside of Ukraine that leads from the Russian border. And that is in case Russian troops come across here because as you mentioned, the Pentagon's figures, 40,000 Russian troops massing on the other side of that border. The Ukrainian government says the figure was almost twice as high. The Ukrainian government also says that the Russians have tanks, they have artillery pieces and they have attack helicopters. Now, of course, the local population here as well, on high alert -- they are not taking anything for granted. They know the Ukrainian military down in Crimea, folded and practically surrendered to the Russians. They also know that they expect very little military help from the Western powers including the United States. The local civilians have been coming together and forming self-defense committees. They have been going to army and navy surplus stores buying their own uniforms for about $120 at times. They are wearing British military uniforms, German military uniforms, any military uniforms they can get their hands on and putting together these self- defense brigades. They have been digging trenches alongside the highway, putting up barricades of sandbags and also car tires that they say they will set on fire and put up smoke screens if the Russians roll across. And that is the big question. It's something that President Obama himself alluded to. The Americans right now don't know what really the Russian intentions are. They know that force across that side of the border is so big and so fast, it could be here with zero warning, Carol.</s>COSTELLO: I just can't imagine the courage in the face of Russian military might. They're digging trenches and setting tires on fire. It is astounding. Karl Penhaul, reporting live from Ukraine. Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello. "@ THIS HOUR" with Berman and Michaela after a break.