Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
11.23.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas continue to step up their activity, increasing the intensity of their fire on the positions of the Anti-Terrorist Operation [ATO] forces and civilian targets. Firing is carried out with small arms (including heavy machine guns), as well as 82-mm mortars, grenade launchers and the on-board guns of BBM armored fighting vehicles.

During the past weekend (21-22.11.2015) militants in several sectors attempted to provoke Ukrainian troops into skirmishes, by coming into direct proximity with ATO forces’ advanced positions, or directing precision fire at them from the so-called “gray zone.”

The terrorists, moreover, have continued actively gathering intelligence on the Ukrainian troops’ combat formations and tactical rear with the help of DRG (sabotage and intelligence units) and an “agent network” along the inner “front-line” strip (infiltrating DRGs across the demarcation line, and dispatching either militants disguised as locals or local-resident “agents” to exploit flaws in the regime for transportation and civilian travel across the demarcation line in the ATO area). Attempts by terrorist DRG to lay mines in localities situated in the ATO forces’ tactical rear were observed.

In the past 24 hours, militants fired on ATO forces’ positions along the entire length of the stretch from Mar’inka to the northern outskirts of Horlivka (near Shumy), as well as in the Luhanske – Myronivske – Rozsadky and Zaitseve – Hladosove areas. Militants also fired on Ukrainian troop positions near Chermalyk, Shchastya and Mayorsk, as well as between Shyrokyne and Sakhanka, and in Shyrokyne itself.

Two militant infantry groups, supported by two BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles and one BTR-80 armored personnel carrier, attempted an attack from the Spartak side of Donetsk in the direction of the battlefield security outposts and one of the Ukrainian troops’ strongpoints near Opytne. The enemy tried to approach ATO forces’ positions under heavy covering fire from the small arms and on-board guns of armored combat vehicles. Under dense return fire from the Ukrainian unit, the militants gave up the attempt to advance beyond the attack line (in the neutral zone), and were forced to withdraw to their starting line. Their retreat was covered by intense volleys of mortar fire (at least three 82 mm mortars).

In the area of Pisky, an enemy infantry group, in order to fire on ATO forces’ advanced positions, attempted a stealth advance, moving along the tree line from the direction of Vesele, towards Ukrainian troop positions located west of Stadionna Street. However, the militant group was spotted by ATO forces’ lookouts while on the move; upon attempting to open fire on Ukrainian troop positions, the infantry group was countered by return fire on its flank. After a 20-minute skirmish, the terrorists were forced to withdraw to their starting point near the cemetery in the settlement of Vesele. Covering fire for the withdrawal was provided by a pair of 82-mm mortars and an SPG-9 “Kopye”[Spear] recoilless gun.

In the daytime, a militant unit covertly deployed 82 mm mortars and several AGS-17 grenade launchers (up to three units) in firing positions on the front line near Shyrokyne. As night fell, the enemy opened fire from heavy machine guns, trying to provoke the ATO forces unit into returning fire so as to detect [ATO] firing points and subsequently suppress them with fire from 82-mm mortars and AGS-17s. As a result of the firefight, the ATO forces’ advanced positions were subjected to enemy fire for 30 minutes: from small arms, 82 mm mortars and AGS-17s.

A militant mortar troop unit (120 mm mortars) on board of “Ural” trucks was observed transferring through Shakhtarsk to an area near Donetsk. Also identified in the convoy was a UR-77 “Meteorit” demining machine.

The militant group concentrated near Horlivka remains in a high state of readiness. A few advanced (vanguard) units of reinforced-platoon size have been moved out towards ATO forces’ positions. One such unit has been identified on the north-western outskirts of Horlivka (four armored personnel carriers (three BTR-80s and one BTR-70) and one BRDM-2 armored surveillance vehicle); a second unit in the Zaitseve direction (two MT-LB multipurpose light-armored transporters (one with a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun) and two BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles).

Militants to the west of Krasnyi Oktyabr, in the bend of the river Kalmius, are equipping artillery positions (the location is good for delivering flanking fire on the positions of the ATO forces near Hranitne). Deployed in the neighboring settlement of Pervomaiske is a militant troop company armed with mortars mounted on MT-LBs and BMP-1s (eight BBM armored combat vehicles in all and six mortars, two of which are 120 mm and the remainder 82 mm).

Shyrokyne, April 2015 Photo: Noah Brooks

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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