A military vehicle was destroyed during a clash between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian separatists Friday, June 13, in Mariupol, Ukraine. After the recent election of President Petro Poroshenko, there is still unrest in the eastern part of Ukraine, where a large separatist movement has arisen in the wake of Russia's takeover of Crimea.
Locals in Mariupol gather around a burning military vehicle at the site of a battle between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian fighters on June 13.
Locals in Mariupol gather around a burning military vehicle at the site of a battle between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian fighters on June 13.
A pro-Russian fighter in Slovyansk, Ukraine, checks a woman's documents as she leaves the city on Thursday, June 12.
A pro-Russian fighter in Slovyansk, Ukraine, checks a woman's documents as she leaves the city on Thursday, June 12.
A pro-Russian fighter stands guard at a checkpoint in Slovyansk on June 12.
A pro-Russian fighter stands guard at a checkpoint in Slovyansk on June 12.
A girl looks out of a bus window as she leaves Slovyansk on Monday, June 9.
A girl looks out of a bus window as she leaves Slovyansk on Monday, June 9.
Poroshenko holds the bulava, the ceremonial mace of the President of Ukraine, during his inauguration ceremony Saturday, June 7, in Kiev, Ukraine. Poroshenko was elected three months after the ouster of former President Viktor Yanukovych.
Poroshenko holds the bulava, the ceremonial mace of the President of Ukraine, during his inauguration ceremony Saturday, June 7, in Kiev, Ukraine. Poroshenko was elected three months after the ouster of former President Viktor Yanukovych.
A Ukrainian tank opens fire during a battle with pro-Russian separatist fighters in Slovyansk on Friday, June 6.
A Ukrainian tank opens fire during a battle with pro-Russian separatist fighters in Slovyansk on Friday, June 6.
A Ukrainian soldier prepares explosives during a battle with pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk on June 6.
A Ukrainian soldier prepares explosives during a battle with pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk on June 6.
A Ukrainian soldier observes the road at a checkpoint outside of Amvrosiivka, Ukraine, on Thursday, June 5.
A Ukrainian soldier observes the road at a checkpoint outside of Amvrosiivka, Ukraine, on Thursday, June 5.
Ukrainian soldiers take position during a battle with pro-Russian separatists outside Slovyansk on June 5.
Ukrainian soldiers take position during a battle with pro-Russian separatists outside Slovyansk on June 5.
Pro-Russian militants stand guard at a barricade and checkpoint in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Sunday, June 1.
Pro-Russian militants stand guard at a barricade and checkpoint in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Sunday, June 1.
A Ukrainian soldier shoots a grenade launcher during a battle with pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk on Saturday, May 31.
A Ukrainian soldier shoots a grenade launcher during a battle with pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk on Saturday, May 31.
A protester from Kiev's Independence Square gestures May 31 as fellow protesters burn tires to protect their barricades from being dismantled by communal services.
A protester from Kiev's Independence Square gestures May 31 as fellow protesters burn tires to protect their barricades from being dismantled by communal services.
A Ukrainian armored personnel carrier takes position during a battle with pro-Russian separatist fighters May 31 in Slovyansk.
A Ukrainian armored personnel carrier takes position during a battle with pro-Russian separatist fighters May 31 in Slovyansk.
Ukrainian soldiers rest at a checkpoint outside Slovyansk on Thursday, May 29.
Ukrainian soldiers rest at a checkpoint outside Slovyansk on Thursday, May 29.
Smoke rises from a shot-down Ukrainian Army helicopter outside Slovyansk on May 29.
Smoke rises from a shot-down Ukrainian Army helicopter outside Slovyansk on May 29.
A man stands in front of a truck that was bombed by Ukrainian soldiers during clashes with armed rebels Tuesday, May 27, in Donetsk.
A man stands in front of a truck that was bombed by Ukrainian soldiers during clashes with armed rebels Tuesday, May 27, in Donetsk.
Medical staff prepare to clean the body of a pro-Russian militant at the Kalinina morgue in Donetsk on May 27.
Medical staff prepare to clean the body of a pro-Russian militant at the Kalinina morgue in Donetsk on May 27.
The body of a pro-Russian militant lies on a stretcher at a morgue in Donetsk on May 27. He was killed in clashes around Donetsk's airport, which was seized by pro-Russian separatists a day earlier. Ukrainian forces moved in and reclaimed the facility.
The body of a pro-Russian militant lies on a stretcher at a morgue in Donetsk on May 27. He was killed in clashes around Donetsk's airport, which was seized by pro-Russian separatists a day earlier. Ukrainian forces moved in and reclaimed the facility.
Firefighters work on extinguishing a fire at a local sports hall in Donetsk on May 27.
Firefighters work on extinguishing a fire at a local sports hall in Donetsk on May 27.
People pile up sandbags to set up a shooting position on the road leading from the Donetsk airport on May 27.
People pile up sandbags to set up a shooting position on the road leading from the Donetsk airport on May 27.
A man dressed in a prisoner costume takes part in a protest against government corruption May 27 in Kiev, Ukraine.
A man dressed in a prisoner costume takes part in a protest against government corruption May 27 in Kiev, Ukraine.
Pro-Russian militants take position on the roof of Donetsk International Airport on Monday, May 26.
Pro-Russian militants take position on the roof of Donetsk International Airport on Monday, May 26.
A pro-Russian militant takes position on the roof of the Donetsk airport on May 26.
A pro-Russian militant takes position on the roof of the Donetsk airport on May 26.
A man runs for cover during fighting around the airport on May 26.
A man runs for cover during fighting around the airport on May 26.
Smoke rises from the airport on May 26 after an airstrike by the Ukrainian military.
Smoke rises from the airport on May 26 after an airstrike by the Ukrainian military.
Pro-Russian gunmen take positions near the airport on May 26.
Pro-Russian gunmen take positions near the airport on May 26.
Men stand next to pro-Russian militants as a woman runs away during clashes near the airport on May 26.
Men stand next to pro-Russian militants as a woman runs away during clashes near the airport on May 26.
A pro-Russian militant guards a checkpoint on May 26, blocking a highway that links the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
A pro-Russian militant guards a checkpoint on May 26, blocking a highway that links the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv with Rostov-on-Don, Russia.
A pro-Russian militant teaches recruits how to use a machine gun in Senyonovka, Ukraine, on May 26.
A pro-Russian militant teaches recruits how to use a machine gun in Senyonovka, Ukraine, on May 26.
A woman walks May 26 near barricades built by protesters in Kiev's Independence Square. Vitali Klitschko, Kiev's future mayor and a former boxing champion, promised to dismantle the iconic protest encampment that helped oust Yanukovych but now clogs traffic and draws public complaints.
A woman walks May 26 near barricades built by protesters in Kiev's Independence Square. Vitali Klitschko, Kiev's future mayor and a former boxing champion, promised to dismantle the iconic protest encampment that helped oust Yanukovych but now clogs traffic and draws public complaints.
Ukraine's newly elected president, Petro Poroshenko, talks alongside Klitschko, right, during a news conference in Kiev on May 26. Poroshenko, a billionaire candy tycoon known as the "Chocolate King," is a seasoned politician known for his pro-European Union views.
Ukraine's newly elected president, Petro Poroshenko, talks alongside Klitschko, right, during a news conference in Kiev on May 26. Poroshenko, a billionaire candy tycoon known as the "Chocolate King," is a seasoned politician known for his pro-European Union views.
Election commission officials count ballots at a polling station in Kiev on Sunday, May 25.
Election commission officials count ballots at a polling station in Kiev on Sunday, May 25.
Artist Ivan Voronov, 91, and his wife, Svetlana Samoilechenko, 86, cast votes from their Kiev home on May 25.
Artist Ivan Voronov, 91, and his wife, Svetlana Samoilechenko, 86, cast votes from their Kiev home on May 25.
An elderly woman casts her vote May 25 as a mobile Ukrainian election committee visited Orane, a village north of Kiev.
An elderly woman casts her vote May 25 as a mobile Ukrainian election committee visited Orane, a village north of Kiev.
A woman holds the hand of a pro-Russian gunman in Donetsk's Lenin Square on May 25. A large separatist rally was held in Donetsk around lunchtime. The protesters chanted pro-Russian slogans as they were addressed by separatist leaders.
A woman holds the hand of a pro-Russian gunman in Donetsk's Lenin Square on May 25. A large separatist rally was held in Donetsk around lunchtime. The protesters chanted pro-Russian slogans as they were addressed by separatist leaders.
A man prepares a ballot at a polling station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Dobropillya on May 25. See the crisis in Ukraine before the election
A man prepares a ballot at a polling station in the eastern Ukrainian town of Dobropillya on May 25. - A skirmish resulted, with Ukrainian forces attacking one column, Avakov says
- Russia's foreign minister tells BBC the claims are false
- Ukrainian President talked to Russian leader about peace plan, media office says
The Russian Foreign Ministry told the BBC that the claim was "another fake piece of information."
According to Avakov, tanks crossed the border at a checkpoint controlled by pro-Russian separatists in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. Armored vehicles and artillery were part of the columns, Avakov said, citing Ukrainian intelligence.
Two of the tanks split off and headed in the direction of Gorlovka, also known as Horlivka, and were attacked by Ukrainian military forces, Avakov said.
Inside Slovyansk: A week of bombardment 
Separatists blame military for airstrike
Part of that column was destroyed, he said.
CNN has not independently confirmed the incidents.
The countries have been engaged in a tense stand-off since March, when Russia annexed Crimea and massed troops along its border with Ukraine.
U.S. officials said in late May that thousands of Russian troops had withdrawn from the border. Thousands more who remained appeared to be preparing to depart, U.S. officials said at the time.
Western leaders have accused Moscow of fomenting instability in eastern Ukraine. Russian leaders say Ukraine has failed to move to implement a framework for peace worked out in Geneva, Switzerland, in April. They say Ukrainian leaders have carried out a campaign of violence against people living in the largely pro-Russian east.
Also on Thursday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin "held a substantial and long phone conversation," the Ukrainian President's media office said, but it was unclear if that conversation occurred before or after the reported tank incursion.
The leaders discussed Poroshenko's peace plan to resolve the situation in the east of Ukraine, the media office said.
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