Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
06.21.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past 24 hours, the tense situation in the ATO zone persisted, particularly in the Avdiivka area. In particular, Russian-terrorist troops deployed 82 mm and 120 mm mortars several times: in the area of the “Putilovskaya” mine air vent (also known as the “Butivka mine” position) and the ATO forces’ “Zenith” stronghold; mortar fire (including 120 mm mortars) also came from the direction of Yasynuvata-2 station and from positions in Spartak near Pryvokzalna Street. The enemy also actively deployed sniper groups and DRGs. Shelling from 122 mm artillery came from the forested area between Pryvokzalna Street (Donetsk–Pivnichnyi station) and Dachnyy Proyizd (a camouflaged terrorist battery of 122 mm D-30/30A howitzers was in operation).

Avdiivka, June 2016. After another shelling. Source

The situation remains similarly tense across the western “Horlivka garrison” sector, where continuous militant shelling persists. In the areas of Verkhnotoretske, Novoselivka Druha, Mayorsk, Lenine, and Novhorodske, terrorists are making active use of grenade launchers (including stand-mounted types, e.g. AGS-17’s and SPG-9M’s), mortars and heavy machine guns of various types. Enemy snipers and small infantry groups are also operating from the “greenery.” In particular, several enemy mobile strike groups are operating on this stretch (some three groups are constantly on the move: one armed with three 2S12 “Sani” 120 mm mortar systems and five “Vasilek” 2B9 82-mm automatic mortars; the second, with two ZU-23-2’s, several heavy machine guns, and 82-mm mortars; and the third, with 82 mm mortars, stand-mounted grenade launchers, and machine guns). These strike groups are highly mobile and are capable of rapid strikes and position changes. Their details are trained in the use of standard weapons during nighttime.

Near Krasnohorivka, a pair of militant tanks shelled the ATO forces’ advanced  strongholds and the residential sector of Krasnohorivka from camouflaged positions in the southern and western part of Staromykhailivka (from a building in the private residences sector). Cover fire for the tanks was provided by a BMP-2 [infantry fighting vehicle] from a position southeast of the “Volvo-Center” and by a mortar unit (a total of seven 120 mm and 82 mm mortars) from positions north of the Staromykhailivka lakes.

Consequences of shelling in Krasnohorivka. Source

The Svitlodarsk salient (the left flank in particular) has seen a sharp intensification of militant activity in the past three days. In the Novozvanivka and Troitske areas, terrorists periodically open heavy fire from mortars, grenade launchers, and small arms from positions near Novooleksandrivka, Kalynove, and Veselohorivka. The enemy is especially active east of Novozvanivka, where militants are using 120 mm mortars, while militant DRG units are attempting to infiltrate the ATO forces’ rear. During the past 24 hours, two pairs of enemy snipers were also observed operating in this sector. South of this sector, the enemy uses the BMP + mortar tandems.

From positions west of Styla, terrorists are shelling the ATO forces’ advanced strongholds near Mykolaivka and Novohnativka, using mortars and 122 mm artillery. On this direction of operations, the enemy is constantly trying to push Ukrainian troops back from Dokuchajevsk.

In the Donetsk area, considerable movement of militant vehicles has been observed on the ring road, between the exit towards Snizhne and the Petrovskyi district (during the past 24 hours, up to 30 vehicles moved in both directions, in the course of resupplying the enemy group bound for Mar’inka and Krasnohorivka).

Major shelling in a residential area on the edge of Donetsk. OSCE inspects the damage. Source: Patrick Lancaster

Along the Shyroka Balka–Ozeryanivka stretch, additional engineering work is being carried out to strengthen militants’ line of defense (in the second echelon). Terrorists are shelling the ATO forces’ positions in this area to provide cover for this work.

On stretches in the vicinity of Yasynuvata, northern districts of Horlivka, Olenivka–Dokuchajevsk, the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk, and Frunze–Zholobok, militant artillery units can be observed (in each case, up to a division with two-three batteries). These units, using both 122 mm and 152 mm artillery, occasionally fire sighting salvos (five-six rounds at a time, sometimes with the help of UAV’s).

During the past 24 hours, there have been at least five victims of accidental “self-detonations” of live grenades in towns under “DNR” control. Victims include militants and civilians alike. Since the start of May 2016, at least 40 people in the “DNR” (including 11 officials of “DNR” security agencies) have become casualties as a result of the careless handling of hand grenades.

In the past two weeks, just two “motorized rifle brigade” units of the “1st DNR AC” (3rd Horlivka brigade and the neighboring 7th brigade) had at least 18 “servicemen” desert (most of them locals).

The task force of the Russian Federation Armed Forces which has arrived in the Novoazovskyi district from Russia, is carrying out its mission to reconnoiter the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ positions in the coastal regions. The Shyrokyne and Vodyane areas have been prioritized. Also in the last three days, Markyne, Novoazovskyi district, has seen the arrival of enemy equipment and personnel from the Russian Federation: currently in Markyne there are up to 200 servicemen of the Russian Federation Armed Forces and nine tanks. In the Novoazovskyi district, a group of officers from the Russian Federation Armed Forces was present at the end of the previous week, with an “inspection mission.” The group was headed by a Russian Colonel-General (according to our preliminary information, identified as Alexander Lentsov, Deputy Commander of the Russian Federation Armed Forces Ground Troops).

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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