Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
02.15.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the weekend (13-14.02.2016), Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas fired at the ATO forces’ positions and civilian targets, making active use of small arms and grenade launchers (including stand-mounted AGS-17’s, AGS-21’s, and SPG-9M’s), 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannons, “Fagot” and “Kornet” anti-tank missile complexes, and the on-board weaponry of BTR-70, BTR-80, and BMP-2 armored vehicles.

Militants were the most active around Donetsk. The ATO forces’ positions south of old Avdiivka were subjected to small arms fire (including heavy machine guns) from the direction of the Yasynuvata junction and the 272 m high ground. Using AGS-17’s and machine guns from the direction of Donetsk–Pivnichnyi station and from the western and northern outskirts of Spartak, militants fired on [the ATO forces’] positions at the Butovka Mine and “Zenith” [position]. A BTR-80 opened fire north of the settlement, while terrorists were also seen using an SPG-9 in the same area. Ukrainian troop positions near Opytne came under small arms and SPG-9 fire from the direction of the destroyed radar station [in the DAP] and from the settlement of Veselyi. Close to the waste mounds west of Spartak (Khutor pond), a militant group fired at the flanks of the ATO forces’ positions using machine guns.

Near Pisky, militants repeatedly opened fire from small arms and grenade launchers (SPG-9 and AGS-17), targeting the ATO forces’ positions and strongholds on the eastern outskirts of Pisky and northeast of the settlement. Fire came from the direction of Zhobunky, Vtoraya Ploshchadka and Veselyi. A terrorist BTR-70 was spotted in the private residences sector of Vtoraya Ploshchadka, firing from its on-board machine guns. Southwest of Staromykhailivka and north of Zhylploschadka, a militant armored group (two BMP-2’s and two BTR-80’s) fired on the ATO forces’ advanced observation posts and strongholds located east of Krasnohorivka. One BMP-2 was firing, while the other BMP-2 and both BTR’s were maneuvering. At the same time, on the eastern outskirts of Krasnohorivka a militant infantry group tried firing at Ukrainian troop positions from close range. In the course of the resulting clashes, the enemy made active use of 82 mm and 120 mm mortars.

Further south, near Mar’inka, militants repeatedly opened fire with AGS-17’s and heavy machine guns, firing from the area north of the Konnyi Club [Horse Riding Club] and the “Crocodile” waste mound, towards [the ATO forces’] positions close to the children’s foster home, the hospital, and the mine ventilation shaft (northwest of this position). Further south, in the south-western outskirts of Oleksandrivka, militants fired small arms at the ATO forces’ checkpoint at the crossroads.

View of the “Crocodile” (waste bank) position in an area of Donetsk. Photo by Bryce Wilson

South of the Horlivske Reservoir and east of Novoselivka, a skirmish occurred between the ATO forces’ units and a militant infantry group that attempted to approach the Ukrainian troop observation post from the western edge of Ozeryanivka and fire on it from close range. The enemy group was spotted in time and, following a short skirmish, returned to its starting point.

Terrorist activity was also noted in the coastal region. Two ATO forces’ strongholds east of Talakivka came under fire from the direction of Kominternove. The northern of these two strongholds was also attacked by a militant group from the neutral zone (after a heavy exchange of fire, the enemy was driven back to their starting point). During this skirmish, militants used 82 mm and 120 mm mortars heavily, from positions north of Kominternove and from the ravine northwest of Zaichenko (where an enemy mortar battery position was identified). Militants also fired from small arms near Shyrokyne.

Terrorists opened heavy fire at the ATO forces’ strongholds north of Novotroitske and on its southeastern outskirts, using small arms, heavy machine guns, and grenade launchers. The fire came from the southern and western outskirts of Dokuchajevsk (Tsentralnyy Karyer [Central Quarry]). Militants used similar weapons when firing at the northern part of Zaitseve and the Zhovanka river (from the waste mound north of the “Terykonna” station and the Holmivskyi district of Horlivka). Terrorists fired on Ukrainian troop positions in the area of Rozsadky and Skeleve, from the direction of Nyzhnje Lozove and Sanzharivka, using heavy machine guns and 82 mm 2B9 “Vasilek” automatic mortars. Terrorists also launched two anti-tank missiles at strongholds northeast of Rozsadky.

Near Oktyabr (the coastal region), militants are redeploying manpower and equipment along the front line. Several armored vehicles (four BMP-2’s and two tanks) have been moved northwards. A terrorist tank platoon (three tanks) has been spotted in camouflaged positions in a ravine south of Kominternove.

North of Yasynuvata (near Kruta Balka and the 247.2 m high ground), four armored vehicles (three BMP-2’s and one MT-LB) were transferred towards the waste mounds north of Kruta Balka.

A terrorist mortar troop unit – four truck loads of personnel and ammunition, with 120 mm mortars on trailers – was seen moving on Bakhmutka motorway towards Zholobok.

Militants have transferred several SAU 2S3 “Akatsiya” systems through Shakhtarsk to the Snizhne area. The armaments were carried by tank transporters and covered with tarpaulin.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Glossary:
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
KSM – command and staff vehicle
LNR – “Luhansk People’s Republic”
MT-LB – light multipurpose tracked vehicle
MLRS – multiple-launch rocket systems
SPG-9 – stand-mounted grenade launcher
ZU-23-2 – anti-aircraft artillery system

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