here is evidence that reinforces the russian idea that they're at war with nato;

Kiev beefs up Donetsk battlegroup with US, British mercenaries, says DPR militia

Some data suggest that there are several foreign groups in the Ukrainian battlegroup in that area distributed among different sectors of the front line, the spokesman said

DONETSK, January 23. /TASS/. The Ukrainian military has reinforced its battlegroup in the Donetsk area with US and British mercenaries, a spokesman for people’s militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) told TASS on Monday.

"According to our information, the battlegroup in the Donetsk area already included a foreign contingent and has now been replenished by American and British mercenaries," the spokesman said.

Some data suggest that there are several foreign groups in the Ukrainian battlegroup in that area distributed among different sectors of the front line, he added.

The DPR people’s militia spokesman told TASS earlier on Monday that Ukrainian servicemen and Polish mercenaries operating in the Gorlovka area had begun ever more frequently to engage in verbal squabbles that could be heard during their radio communications. German mercenaries are also positioned in that area, according to the latest data, he said........more......