Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
04.04.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past weekend (04.02–0.4.03.2016), the most intense situation in the ATO zone persisted in the vicinity of Avdiivka.

In this area, militants opened fire repeatedly from 120 mm mortars from positions near Yasynuvata junction and north of Lenina Street (Mineralne settlement), as well as from “Vasilek” 2B9 82 mm automatic grenade launchers, from positions in the vegetation beyond the motorway near Yasynuvata-2 station. Five “Akatsiya” 2S3 self-propelled 152 mm guns were identified on positions in the western outskirts of Yakovlivka (north of the slag heaps), but did not open fire. East of “Gospodar” market, four terrorist tanks were spotted on camouflaged positions; three more, as before, are operating south of Yasynuvata junction.

Avdiivka. House hit from militant shelling, April 1, 2016. Photo: TV Channel Ukraine

In the Avdiivka area, the enemy also continues actively using small infantry groups and DRGs in an attempt to push the ATO forces’ units further east and northeast of the “industrial zone.” Usually, these groups operate under cover of dense fire from heavy machine guns, AGS-17’s and “Kopye” SPG-9M [grenade launchers].

Militants fired on the [ATO] strongholds and observation points south and southeast of Mayorsk and near Zaitseve “traditionally”: using machine guns and stand-mounted grenade launchers. In the vicinity of Novotroitsk, terrorists deploy heavy machine guns and AGS-17’s – namely, an advanced stronghold of the ATO forces was shelled from positions south of Tsentralnyy Karyer [Central Quarry]. Several small groups of militants were also spotted on the move in the same area, reconnoitering mine barriers.

In the coastal areas, militants used 120 mm mortars: a number of observation points and strongholds of Ukrainian troops north of Shyrokyne, near Vodyane, Hnutove, and Pavlopil were shelled from positions northeast of Sakhanka and south of Oktyabr.

Persistent rumors are circulating among a number of militant units stationed in the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk (in the area of Mar’inka), according to which the Ukrainian side is using extremely highly-trained “NATO snipers” (from the USA, Germany, and the Baltic countries) who are purposefully hunting down militant snipers and commanders. [The rumors] even mention call-signs of terrorists allegedly destroyed by these foreign “super-snipers” (including, for example, the deputy battalion commander of the “Oplot” gang, call-sign “Svaya,” who, in reality, has been destroyed).

The “secret” reports of the “1st AC of the DNR” mention that “Ukrainian combat aviation resumed flights” in areas directly adjacent to the demarcation line. The same information is being actively circulated through the militant ranks within the “1st AC.”

The “hunt for Ukrainian spies” continues in Makiivka. Employees of the “DNR Ministry of State Security” are actively searching for some “miniature electronic devices used to direct artillery and mortar fire,” which, allegedly, local residents hired by Ukrainian special services are setting up near terrorists’ military objects. A number of civilians were arrested on these charges. In one of those cases, the “evidence” presented by the employees of the “DNR Ministry of State Security” was a simple Soviet-made bicycle bell.

Russian militant from the 3rd OMSBR with MANPADS in Horlivka, March 31, 2016. Photo: @GirkinGirkin

Militants once again “discovered” some “mass grave of the Ukrainian enforcers” near Debaltseve. A whole number of “DNR’s information and propaganda” structures were instructed to “videotape the exhumation.” Hasty preparations are underway to deliver unidentified bodies to the “exhumation” site and prepare camera crews for the “video op.”

In Dokuchajevsk, rumors are being circulated among “DNR” militants and local residents that Ukrainian Armed Forces are carrying out an operation to encircle the city, and that the “DNR” command plans to abandon it. Panic erupted in the city as a result. Large numbers of employees of “DNR law enforcement bodies” are writing requests to be transferred to other towns. The Dokuchajevsk “militant commandant’s office” received an order to put up posters with calls to curb the panic – however, they only serve to increase the panic mood further.

Luhansk “media” are actively spreading false information about the shelling of “LNR” militant positions near Pervomaisk by Ukrainian troops with the use of a “Grad” BM-21 122 mm MLRS, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of several militants and local residents. Terrorists are actively spreading rumors among civilians living near the demarcation line that such shellings will be repeated, being “ukrop’s revenge” to local residents for refusing to leave the occupied territory. According to the militants’ version, it was the threat of such shellings that caused them to close the “Zolote” checkpoint. In reality, there have been no such shellings, and no competent reasons for closing the checkpoint in question. At the same time, militants are actively laying landmines in this area.

The “LNR” leadership is embezzling humanitarian aid received from the Russian Federation by daily writing off a significant amount of food products received by the “Pokoleniye” public catering organization. This organization, created by order of Ihor Plotnitsky, the “head of the LNR,” specializes in supplying free food to preschool facilities, schools, and hospitals. “Pokoleniye” receives over UAH 100,000 [USD 3,800] of underhand profits daily, just from the fraud with school lunches.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB 

Glossary:

AC – Army Corps
ACV – armored combat vehicle
AGS-17 – automatic grenade launcher
ATO – Anti-Terrorist Operation
BMP – infantry fighting vehicle
BTG – battalion tactical group
BTR, APC – armored personnel carrier
BRDM – armored reconnaissance and surveillance vehicle
BRM – armored reconnaissance vehicle
DAP – Donetsk International Airport
DNR – “Donetsk People’s Republic”
DRG – sabotage and reconnaissance group
ELINT – Electronic Intelligence
GUR – Defense Intelligence
KSM – command and staff vehicle
LNR – “Luhansk People’s Republic”
MGB – Ministry of State Security
MOD – Ministry of Defense
MT-LB – light multipurpose tracked vehicle
MLRS – multiple-launch rocket systems
OMSBR – Independent Motorized Rifle Brigade
SBU – Ukrainian Secret Service
SPG-9 – stand-mounted grenade launcher
TZM, TLV – transporter-loading vehicle
UAV – Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drones or other)
ZU-23-2 – anti-aircraft artillery system

This translation work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The rights pertaining to the original work remain unaffected.