Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
12.02.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

In the course of continuing active firing on the ATO forces’ positions and civilian targets, Russian-terrorist troop units are using small arms, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, anti-aircraft guns, grenade launchers of different types, and the on-board weaponry of armored combat vehicles. In several instances, terrorists fired on settlements that are currently under their own control. At the same time, militants are actively regrouping their forces and equipment (at the front line as well as in the tactical and operational-tactical rear).

Militant DRGs [sabotage and reconnaissange groups] and small infantry groups are still active at the front line and in the neutral zone (conducting reconnaissance, laying minefields, and carrying out sudden fire attacks from an effective firing range).

The activity of several sniper groups was recorded in the vicinity of Mar’inka. Shelling near Opytne involved [among other weapons] the on-board weaponry of armored combat vehicles (several BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles). The activity of militant infantry groups, including with support from combat equipment, was recorded in the vicinity of Avdiivka (including the use of mortars), Opytne (including the use of AGS-17 and SPG-9 grenade launchers from the direction of Donetsk International Airport (DAP) and Spartak), Pisky (grenade launchers and ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns), Mar’inka, Syze, Shyrokyne, Hranitne, Lozove, Krasnohorivka (particularly active shelling, including the use of mortars and the on-board guns of ACVs), in the vicinity of Novhorodske and Novotroitske, at the Svitlodarsk bridgehead (in Luhanske, shelled from grenade launchers), Trokhizbenka, and Shchastya.

The IR group’s network recorded the arrival of militant combat equipment (mainly infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers) at several sections along the demarcation line – north of Sakhanka, near Ozeryanivka, Olenivka, and Oleksandrivka, and on the stretch between Krasnohorivka and areas north of Avdiivka (in this latter section, terrorist tanks were also spotted in the second echelon).

Clashes were recorded in the vicinity of Avdiivka (terrorist forces, up to one platoon in strength, fired on the ATO forces’ position at close range) and Mayorsk (up to a platoon of militants, supported by two 82 mm mortars, engaged an advanced unit of Ukrainian forces, after infiltrating the neutral zone). In both cases, the ATO forces opened return fire, and terrorists fell back to their original lines after a brief firefight.

Near Donetsk, militant reinforcements were transferred along the ring road in the direction of Mineralne and Yakovlivka – two MT-LB multi-purpose transporters with militants on board, four trucks with militants in the back, and six infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-1 and BMP-2). Mortars were recorded again in the Vtoraya Ploshchadka housing estate [Donetsk] – three mortars on board of GAZ-66 trailers, as well as an Ural truck with a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun (this militant group is firing on Pisky). Two MT-LB and an Ural truck carrying a ZU-23-2 have been transferred in the direction of the Trudovski district. According to our data, a composite militant unit (“battalion”) is operating in the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk, periodically opening fire on our position in the vicinity of Mar’inka and Krasnohorivka. This unit has at its disposal no less than five 82 mm mortars (which militants are periodically moving from position to position using several trucks) and 7-8 armored combat vehicles (mainly MT-LB transporters and infantry fighting vehicles). Militants continue transferring reinforcements towards DAP and Spartak – over the past 24 hours, we recorded four Kamaz trucks with militants (60-70 personnel), four 2B9 Vasilek 82 mm mortars, and two 120 mm mortars.

The vanguard of a terrorist motorized rifle battalion, comprising four BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and two Kamaz trucks with militants, moved out from Horlivka in the direction of Leninske (the same unit had been earlier transferred to the “Horlivka garrison” from the direction of Yenakijeve). A command point – one mobile intelligence and command unit (PPRU) on a lengthened MT-LB [chassis], plus two MT-LB and two BMP-2 – has been transferred to the vicinity of Horlivka from the southern regions.

Militants continue fortifying their positions along the Sakhanka – Dzerzhynske – Zaichenko line. Three more armored combat vehicles have been transferred here from the direction of Bezimenne (two BMP-2 and one BTR-80). A group of well-armed and well-equipped militants arrived in the vicinity of Zaichenko.

“LNR” [Luhansk People’s Republic] militants continue covertly reinforcing their groups in the vicinity of Stakhanov and north of Luhansk. A convoy of three APCs (one BTR-70 and two BTR-80) and two Kamaz trucks was spotted between Alchevsk and Stakhanov; all this equipment is returning from the repair base in Perevalsk. Two fuel tanker trucks escorted by two BMP-1, one BRM-1 armored reconnaissance vehicle, and one BRDM-2 combat reconnaissance/patrol vehicle moved from Stukalova Balka from the direction of Luhansk (from the “withdrawn equipment collection point” near Luhansk).

Terrorists are expecting the arrival of a train with ammunition from Russia at Krasnodon station. A mobile crane and trucks with trailers have arrived at the station. In addition to ammunition, the train will be delivering “very important cargo” (no further information is currently available on the nature of the cargo). The security of the railway station has been tightened; a large number of “members of the [LNR] Ministry of State Security” in plainclothes are observed here.

Photo by Alexander Podolsky

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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