Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
06.24.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine
(See end of post for acronym glossary)
Operational data from Information Resistance:
Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas are increasing their use of 120 mm mortars and cannon artillery of 122 mm and 152 mm caliber (mainly using self-propelled artillery guns, which quickly take firing positions and promptly retreat; however, terrorists also use towed artillery). The bulk of militant artillery shelling occurs at nighttime (before 5 am), but militants are notably less scrupulous about concealing their use of heavy weaponry.
In addition to the “traditional” sectors where the enemy deploys heavy weaponry (the areas of Avdiivka, Pisky, Opytne, Dokuchajevsk–Taramchuk, Berezove, Novotroitske, and southwest of Dokuchajevsk), militants have stepped up their activity in a number of other areas.
In the area of the Svitlodarsk salient, militants are shelling the ATO forces’ strongholds east of Novozvanivka (south of Popasna), using not only mortars and grenade launchers, but also artillery, from positions south of Novooleksandrivka (four 122-mm self-propelled artillery guns, in tandem with 82 mm mortars).
June 20-21, 2016: The consequences of overnight shelling in Avdiivka
Militants shelled the ATO forces in the vicinity of Troitske, Verkhnotoretske, and Novoselivka Druha, using 122 mm and 152 mm artillery from positions near Mykhailivka, Batmanove (former Krasnyi Partyzan), and west of Panteleimonivka. In addition, a pair of militant 152 mm self-propelled guns (“Akatsiya” 2S3 or similar) shelled Ukrainian troop positions south of Nevelske, operating from the area northwest of Lozove.
It should be noted that the enemy started carrying out ranging artillery fire on the ATO forces’ rear, namely in the vicinity of Avdiivka (residential areas) and Pervomaisk; detonations of 152 mm and 122 mm shells were recorded. In some cases, ranging fire includes fire shifting and transfers, in salvos up to 10 shells. At the same time, militants are transferring new artillery detachments to the front line.
June 20-21, 2016: The consequences of overnight shelling in Avdiivka
Terrorist forces and equipment have been considerably reinforced in the Petrovskiy and Kirovskiy districts of Donetsk, as well as near Staromykhailivka. The reinforcements are units from the “1st DNR AC” brigades, already “broken in” in training centers. In total, a transfer of up to two infantry battalions was recorded; north of Novotroitska Street, beyond the railroad, six BMP-2’s and several MT-LB’s were spotted on the march; as well as two tanks in camouflaged shelters, near Staromykhailivka (in the southern part of the settlement; previously, these tanks were used in shellings near Krasnohorivka). A militant artillery group (two batteries) was spotted in the same area.
Militants continue actively transporting ammunition and fuel along the Bakhmut motorway, in the direction of Kadiivka (formerly Stakhanov), mainly via the Mykhailivka junction (up to 25 vehicles during the past 24 hours, including 7 fuel tanker trucks).
Rumors are circulating among the employees of the “LNR Ministry of State Security” about “informal contacts” between some of the “ministry’s” leaders and Ukrainian special services. According to the preliminary reports, these rumors are being spread by one of the “influence groups” inside the “LNR MSS” to organize subsequent “staff purges” under the pretext of “rooting out traitors.”
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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Voices of Ukraine 
Dear Ukraine and the Ukrainian political leadership… this is already too much, in my personal view.
Yesterday, the new state news agency of Ukraine wrote in its Twitter account that 3 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 16 other soldiers were wounded “in Donbas overnight.” https://twitter.com/uatodaytv/status/752161977632514048 I myself have have been reading the same or very similar headlines in the same Twitter account every single day since the end of last year. For about six months, I guess, the latest hit-and-run operation of the Russian proxy forces in the Donbass has been continuing without pause, unfortunately.
The NATO and its member states did not do enough for Ukraine to deter such vicious guerilla attacks by the Kremlin. And the Kremlin has exploited the weak response by the NATO countries. Although a great defence strategy was already presented for Ukraine by the most experienced people like General Wesley Clark in March one year ago, the NATO member countries, not to mention the UK and the US, did not want to listen to his honest advice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkQxQTfq5qU The “inaction” taken by the civilian political leaders of the UK, US and other countries concerned since then, not to mention the Ukrainian leaders themselves, was very irresponsible.
The advice General Clark and his colleagues presented for the benefit of Ukraine and its innocent people over one year ago is the most effective response to the aggression by the Kremlin even today. Someone in the political leadership of Ukraine, the NATO, the UK and the US must listen to the honest advice and start giving the Ukrainian military better armours to protect its troops. How many Ukrainian people have to get killed by the Kremlin before you finally act???
Enquanto o verme do Putin estiver no poder, a Ucrânia não terá paz.