Ukraine, rebels both claim to control Donetsk airport

DONETSK, Ukraine (WLS) -- With more than 50,000 Ukrainian nationals in Chicago, there is keen interest in what's happening there and tonight the news is very concerning. Three battalions of Russian soldiers - a force possibly numbering in the thousands - said to be moving into Ukraine right now with buk missiles and grad multiple rocket systems. This apparent offensive by Russia comes after a weekend of fierce fighting between government troops and Kremlin-backed rebels.

The dead of winter in Ukraine, where heavy combat the past few days and the bombardment of villages results in a climbing death toll and many homeless.

Rebel shelling hit this hospital and a university across the street in central Donetsk is proof that the September cease-fire has ended.

This nurse says there was smoke everywhere when the pediatric ward was hit by mortar fire and she says people were running with their children to save them...there were many casualties.

Drone video of the Donetsk airport shows the brand new facility now in ruins...the result of a weekend battle for control of an airport that now, no longer exists.

Ukraine and western nations contend that Russia has been backing rebel forces, although Moscow denies the charges.

Tonight though, the Ukrainian prime minister says columns of Russian troops are rolling right over the border between the enemy nations.

Yesterday a large protest in the capital of Kiev against escalating violence in a conflict that has already claimed at least 5000 people and is Europe's worst humanitarian crisis since the 1990's Balkan wars.

"It's not that they march only in the name of those people who died in Volnovakha," says Kiev resident Andriy Moskalenko, "but in the name of those people who have been killed during all this conflict."

Tonight there has been no specific response from Moscow about the numerous reports of Russian troops moving over the border. The Kremlin has always denied that its regular army forces are in eastern Ukraine, admitting only to Russian volunteers there helping rebels. Also this week the first U.S. Military delegation arrives in Ukraine for NATO meetings and training.