Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
06.03.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist forces continue to shell Ukrainian forces’ positions and the populated areas under their control. At the same time, the number of areas where the enemy is active keeps growing, which, as a whole, shows a steady trend of escalation in the ATO zone. As well as small arms and grenade launchers, the terrorists continue to also use armored vehicles and 120-mm mortars, ZU-23-2’s, and sniper groups along virtually the entire line of contact.

Militants also continue to wage an active reconnaissance of the ATO forces’ combat lines in the tactical zone, and are trying to organize it systematically in the operational-tactical zone, actively using such equipment as UAVs, RTR stations [electronic intelligence], mobile (portable) ground radars, etc.

The “traditionally” tense situation persists in the regions of Opytne, Pisky, “Butovka,” Avdiivka (the industrial zone). During the past 3 days, the situation has also escalated significantly in the areas around Horlivka, where the positions of the militants’ so-called “Horlivka garrison” are located, and where the enemy has begun to actively use light armor and 120-mm mortars (Zaitseve, Novhorodske, the region of Novosvitlivka).

An escalation of hostilities has been observed in the sector south of Donetsk, all the way to the seaside flank. In particular, the terrorists have increased activity in the vicinity of the following settlements: Novotroitsk, Berezove, Mar’inka, Talakivka, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Hranitne, and Shyrokyne. The militants are mainly using small arms, 82-mm mortars, heavy grenade launchers, ZU-23-2’s, occasionally – 120-mm mortars (for example, over the course of the day, militants opened fire from 120-mm mortars three times at ATO forces’ advanced positions in the region of Dokuchajevsk–Novotroitske) and 122-mm cannon artillery. In areas situated closer to Donetsk, the militants more often use armored vehicles (BMP and BTR [infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers]). South of Mar’inka, an enemy reconnaissance and sabotage group tried to infiltrate the rear of the Ukrainian forces.

In general, over the past few days the number of attempts by enemy DRGs to infiltrate the rear of the ATO forces has risen sharply, as have attempts at sudden shelling of the Ukrainian forces’ positions by militant small infantry groups at close range (mainly from the neutral zone, using forested terrain). On average, 2-3 such incidents are recorded per day.

There is a rising intensity in the so-called “war of small groups.” For example, in the area of the Svitlodarsk salient (the forward positions south of Luhanske and southwest of Svitlodarsk), militants fired at ATO forces from the “neutral zone” during the night, using small arms, as well as portable and underbarrel grenade launchers, under covering fire from 82-mm mortars and heavy machine guns. In the same area (south of Svitlodarsk) the militants twice fired from BMP-1’s from concealed positions. On the opposite flank of the Svitlodarsk salient, south of Troitske [Luhansk], a small enemy group has also attempted to attack ATO positions under covering fire from grenade launchers and heavy machine guns.

In the area of Stanytsia Luhanska, using forested terrain along the Seversky Donets River, several enemy sniper groups simultaneously attempted to approach ATO forces’ positions during night time, to open precision fire under cover of special infantry fire groups (the fire groups, equipped with 82-mm mortars and AGS-17, are positioned in the militants’ advanced outposts). Sniper fire is also carried out in the daylight hours.

In the region of Putylivka (Donetsk), three militant 120-mm mortars (towed) were observed redeploying to the southern direction of operations (the convoy also included several MTLB’s).

In the region of Mospyne, 8 tanks have been recorded on the march, headed southwest. Notably, the tanks were transferred as a single group, without camouflage.

Artillery units with Russian Federation armed forces personnel have arrived in Perevalsk. The redeployment was carried out by 4 cargo trucks (according to our preliminary data, these were 152-mm “Msta-B” howitzers). The redeployment of artillery is expected later.

Ten militants from the 9^th regiment of the“1st DNR corps” were delivered to the Novoazovsk hospital, suffering from an overdose of narcotics. In general, morale is low in the regiment; many terrorists are deserting their units and driving out to the Russian Federation “to do some earning.”

In Sjedove (Novoazovsk region), a conflict is flaring up between local militants and units arriving from Russia (mercenaries and Russian Federation servicemen). In particular, the conflict started because of a redistribution of resorts and rest bases where the Russian-terrorist forces are positioned.

After yesterday’s “synchronous” statements by the leaders of the “LDNR,” Ihor Plotnitsky and Alexander Zakharchenko regarding a “diplomatic offensive” on Kyiv, with a gathering of signatures for a “petition regarding the non-fulfillment by Ukraine of the UN Security Council resolution ‘Regarding a complex of measures on the fulfillment of the Minsk agreements,’” rumors quickly began circulating amongst the armed groups that such statements serve as a cover for the preparation of a large-scale offensive by the Russian-terrorist forces.

Some personnel of the “DNR police” are having their wages cut by 25%. In particular, this applies to the traitors who formerly served in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other security structures of Ukraine. The official reason cited for the wage cut is that it is impossible to confirm how many years such personnel had served in the law enforcement bodies of Ukraine (earlier, corresponding wage bonuses for length of service were added based on the verbal information provided by the servicemen themselves). Those who are unhappy with the cut are told to obtain documented proof of their years of service in the MIA and other Ukrainian authorities.

By personal decree of Alexander Zakharchenko, a protest is scheduled to take place in Donetsk on or around 06.10.2016, to express discontent of the local population with the arrival of the so-called “OSCE police mission” on the occupied territories. “The administration of the head of the DNR” has issued an order to forcibly recruit “DNR” residents to take part in this protest action. The total number of participants, according to the order, is planned to be around 16 thousand Donetsk residents, and 14 thousand from other towns. The “heads” of “administrations” on all levels are taking measures to organize and recruit “public sector workers” to this event, as a priority.

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
GRU – Russian Defense Intelligence, the main military foreign-intelligence service of the Russian Federation
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

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