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Selfies posted to Instagram by 24-year-old Russian soldier Alexander Sotkin appear to show some of his pictures were uploaded from inside the Ukraine, inset left. The selfies of the soldier include one which he claims to working on a BUK missile launcher, similar to the one which brought down MH17, and another which appears to show him inside an armoured personnel carrier, right. It comes as the Ukrainian military announced they would be a day-long pause to its offensive to oust pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country to allow a stalled probe into the downing of the passenger jet to go ahead.

Are these selfies proof that Putin IS operating in the Ukraine? Photographs posted by Russian soldier on Instagram 'were taken across the border'

Alexander Sotkin, a Russian soldier, has been posting selfies on social media
Several appear to show that they were uploaded from inside Ukraine
He has been swamped with abuse from Russians for embarrassing them

By Jennifer Newton

Published: 10:20 GMT, 31 July 2014 | Updated: 13:57 GMT, 31 July 2014

Pictures which claim to be from a selfie-obsessed Russian soldier appear to reveal that he was inside Ukraine - suggesting Moscow has sent troops across the border.

Alexander Sotkin, who says he is a communications specialist on social media, has been posting selfies to his Instagram page showing him operating military equipment.

Several of the pictures, which were uploaded to Instagram appear to show that his location was inside the Ukrainian border.

He has come under attack in his home country, where Russians have bombarded him on social media with messages criticising him for his actions.

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Alexander Sotkin, who says on social media he is a communications expert, has been posting selfies online

This picture was uploaded by Sotkin on July 3, which appears to show him inside an armoured personnel carrier

The pictures, which were posted earlier this month, were apparently posted in the village of Krasnyi Derkul, nine miles from the Russian base of Voloshino.

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A picture on July 3, which appears to have been uploaded in Russia, claims to shows Sotkin working in what appears to be an armoured personnel carrier.

However, two days later, he posted another picture, which claims to be from inside the village of Krasnyi Derkul in Ukraine.

A following post on July 7 then appears to reveal he is back over the border in Russia.

Russia has not denied that Sotkin was across the border when he took the photographs.

Russian Soldier Alexander Sotkin in one of his selfie videos

The photo map, from Sotkin's Instagram account, which appears to show two pictures, which were uploaded in Ukraine

According to the Sotkin's Instagram photo map, this picture was posted inside the Ukrainian border

The village, where this picture appears to have been uploaded is in rebel-held territory in the east of Ukraine

The village is in rebel-held territory in the east of Ukraine, although it is not entirely clear exactly if the 24-year-old was there or for how long.

There is no link to Sotkin and the attack on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which came down in the east of Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.

Ukraine has accused Russia of firing surface-to-air missiles across the border and just last week, two of their fighter jets were brought down.

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In this post, Sotkin says he is 'sitting around, working on a buk, listening to music. He signs off saying 'basically a good Sunday'

The 24-year-old who claims to be a Russian soldier describes himself as a communications specialist on social media

Today the Ukrainian military announced that there will be a day-long pause to its brutal offensive to oust pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country.

The announcement follows a plea from the UN for a truce to allow a stalled probe into the downing of the passenger jet to go ahead.

Military spokesman Olekisy Dmytrashkivsky said that the move was in response to an appeal by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, adding: 'We have taken a decision not to conduct military operations on this so-called "day of quiet."'

The radar route of Malaysian Airlines plane MH17

It comes after fighting in Ukraine on Tuesday prevented representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe reaching the crash site for a third successive day.

According to Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, pro-Russian rebels have booby-trapped the MH17 crash site making it impossible for international investigators to access the scene of the crash.

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the rebels were digging in for battle near the crash site: 'They have brought a large number of heavy artillery there and mined approaches to this area.

'This makes impossible the work of international experts trying to start work to establish the reasons behind the Boeing 777 crash.'

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