KIEV, Aug. 25 – President Petro Poroshenko says that a militant offensive into Ukrainian territory is possible.

"Does this mean that the enemy has abandoned the idea of direct invasion or an offensive of the militants deep into Ukraine? No," the president said in the center of Kiev on Monday on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day.

"The Russian military force stationed near our border in the east has exceeded 50,000 men, and over 40,000 are staying in the occupied territories, including 9,000 career officers of the Russian Armed Forces who hold command positions and thereby form Russian army units on our lands," he said.