Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
08.07.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
Photographs by Noah Brooks, reprinted by permission

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas continue actively shelling the positions of Ukrainian troops, as well as civilian objects, including the use of heavy armaments in a number of areas. At the same time, an increase is observed in the number of terrorist shellings with the use of small arms, which are recorded practically along the entire demarcation line.

The most intense shellings by militants were recorded to the west and northwest of Donetsk, in areas south of Donetsk (Berezove, Hranitne), in the vicinity of Horlivka, near the Svitlodarsk bridgehead, in the seaside areas, as well as in the area from  Zolote and Orikhove to Shchastya and Stanytsia Luhanska. Units of Russian-terrorist troops are also highly active between the settlements of Novomykhailivka and Peremoha, in the vicinity of Krasnohorivka, Lozove, southeast of Pisky, near Opytne and Vodyane, south and north of Avdiivka, and in the vicinity of Troitske, Shumy, and Leninske.

After a rocket attack outside Mariupol, eastern Ukraine. Photo: Noah Brooks. Source

In particular, the militants have deployed 120 mm mortars in the area of Novomykhailivka, southeast of Mar’inka, and in the vicinity of Pisky, Opytne, Avdiivka, and Leninske. Armored vehicles advanced towards the ATO forces’ positions several times, under cover of mortar fire – two tanks fired on the advanced positions of Ukrainian troops near Pisky for 20 minutes; one tank and two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles shelled the ATO positions near Opytne for 30 minutes (during this shelling, two 125 mm munitions fired by the militants’ tank detonated in the settlement of Vodyane).

Terrorists deployed 122 mm artillery for brief fire strikes against the ATO forces’ strongholds near Troitske, between the Horlivka – Artemivsk motorway (in the area of Kurdyumivka – Zelenopillya), and on the positions near Hranitne. Two strikes were also made on Krasnohorivka.

In the vicinity of Avdiivka, the ATO forces were shelled from 122 mm and 152 mm artillery, and 120 mm mortars. On the first line (closer to Yasynuvata), a terrorist tank group was spotted maneuvering (without opening fire).

In the area of the Svitlodarsk bridgehead, militants used mortars (82 mm and 120 mm) against the advanced ATO positions near Popasna and Luhanske; AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers were deployed against the positions of Ukrainian troops south of Svitlodarsk.

A terrorist armored group (3 tanks) was operating in the vicinity of Shchastya, supported by 82 mm mortars from the direction of Vesela Hora. The armored group shelled the settlement of Shchastya, with advance and retreat of the armored vehicles being supported by AGS-17 grenade launchers. During combat, several militant infantry groups were spotted moving towards and along the demarcation line. These enemy groups opened fire against the ATO forces’ advanced positions, in a number of instances.

Pieces of artillery and mortar shells in East Ukraine after “separatists” shelled Ukrainian positions. (Sea shells in Shyrokyne). Photo: Noah Brooks. Source

A group of “specialists from Russia” has emerged in Luhansk, focused on organizing contraband supplies of food from Ukraine-controlled territory. The group includes 16 people, including 3 women; they are predominantly representatives of the FSB and other Russian authorities. This group has no permanent dislocation, takes special effort to avoid attracting attention (the group members are dressing to look like “local militants”), are moving around aboard two Volkswagen T-4 minibuses with tinted windows (without license plates), two Tiger GAZ-2330 armored combat vehicles, and a “civilian” jeep. Members of these group are reportedly questioning the “LNR” [Luhansk People’s Republic] “businessmen” and “officials” involved in smuggling for information about any corrupt Ukrainian military servicemen (officials in commanding authorities, as well as members of private corps at checkpoints) who are participating in contraband schemes (possibly, to recruit them in the future under threat of blackmail). The local “Ministry of state defense” has been ordered to “provide extensive cooperation” to this group without interfering in its activities. The commanders of the group are in regular contact with the “LNR” leadership, while some of the group members are regularly visiting the “front line.” A similar special group from Russia has been spotted in Donetsk.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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