Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
07.28.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

While remaining highly active with shelling and armed provocations, Russian-terrorist forces have accelerated the combat training of their units stationed in the rear. As of today, local terrorists and Russian mercenaries, led by “instructors” from the Russian Federation Armed Forces, have created a unified system of combat and skills training for units of the “1st” and “2nd” AC [Army Corps], involving a number of military exercise grounds and centers in occupied areas. The training undergone by these units also includes a rotating “initiation” in real combat conditions at the front line.

Near Avdiivka, occupiers deployed 122 mm cannon artillery, as well as 120 mm and 82 mm mortars. Fire from positions north and northwest of Yasynuvata and from the Mineralne–Yakovlivka area targeted the ATO forces’ positions near the “industrial zone” and in the private residences sector (dachas) south of it. A pair of enemy BMP-2’s operated close to the Yasynuvata junction and the traffic police (GAI) station.

The occupiers also actively shelled the areas surrounding Avdiivka. The terrorists repeatedly used 120 mm mortars from the direction of the junction and northern outskirts of Spartak, firing at the ATO forces’ positions near the Putylivska mine air collector shaft (Butivka mine). An enemy mobile attack group with SPG-9M stand-mounted grenade launchers and ZU-23-2 anti aircraft systems “raked” the ATO forces’ positions near the Donetsk International Airport (DAP) and further west (Opytne and Vodyane). Close to Pisky, terrorists fired several times from 82 mm mortars and heavy machine guns. A similar scenario occurred in the Zaitseve–Mayorsk area, [with firing] both from the direction of Holmivskyi and from north of Terykonna station.

Consequences of July 25-26 shelling in Avdiivka, Sedova street. The house burned down completely after a direct hit. The residents have sheer coincidence to thank for their survival: they were spending the night at another address. Source

Militants near Staromykhailivka brought up a new mortar unit of five to six 120 mm mortars from Vesele. Ukrainian troop positions on the southwestern and western perimeter of Krasnohorivka came under fire from the northern part of Staromykhailivka. The enemy in this area also used 82 mm mortars.

In the coastal direction of operations, the situation remains tense. The enemy is proving particularly active in the Dokuchajevsk area, where militants are constantly trying to “push back” the ATO forces from this locality. South of the town and near the Tsentralnyy Karyer [Central Quarry] waste banks, there is constant shelling by militants from mortars of both calibers (individual mortar shell explosions were also recorded near the Mariupol-Donetsk highway close to Novotroitske). There is also enemy shelling in the vicinity of Berezove (mainly from small arms and stand-mounted grenade launchers). The enemy uses grenade launchers and mortars (82-120 mm) in the Talakivka, Hnutove, and Shyrokyne areas.

On the Svitlodarsk salient, the enemy is actively using AGS-17’s and 120 mm mortars. The ATO forces positions close to Rozsadky and south of Luhanske were frequently shelled, from enemy positions southeast of Nyzhnje Lozove and from the direction of Novohryhorivka.

Militants are particularly active in the Luhansk direction of operations, near Stanytsia Luhanska and Novozvanivka (mainly using small arms, VOG [anti-personnel] grenades, and AGS-17’s).

The enemy is actively reinforcing their units in the western sections of Horlivka, in the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk, south of the city, as well as on the coastal flank. During the past 24 hours, considerable vehicle traffic (including special-purpose vehicles) was observed along the southern section of the Donetsk Bypass, from [pistol club] Artemida in the direction of Oleksandrivka, as was the movement of up to 10 BBM armored fighting vehicles (mainly BTR-80’s and MT-LB’s). Near Horlivka, a mobile attack group (two BMP-1’s, an Ural truck with a ZU-23-2, and two Kamaz trucks with personnel and ammunition) drove past the knitwear factory northwards.

Consequences of July 25 shelling in Avdiivka, Turheneva street. Source

There has been a notable increase in the concentration of militant units in the Bezimenne area, as well as north of the town. In total, up to a militant motorized infantry company has been moved to the area. In the Dzerzhinsky district north of Sakhanka, positions for armored vehicles and transportation trucks are being equipped.

The leadership of the “DNR Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA)” has delivered a report on its work over the past six months. During the “DNR MIA” directorate meeting held in Donetsk, it was stated that during the first half of this year, the crime-solving rates were 80% for murders, 85% for crimes with grievous bodily harm, and about 60% for fraud. At the same time, the “confidential” section of the “DNR MIA” leadership’s final report noted an increase in the number of crimes in the occupied areas of Donetsk region, with a tendency for a further rise in criminality. Especially singled out were the widespread disregard of curfews by the local population and the general ineffectiveness of “law enforcement” agencies, primarily due to corruption among “DNR MIA” officials. According to the report, in June 2016 alone, about 600 cases of corruption were recorded in organisational units of the “DNR MIA.”

In the “DNR,” investigation continues in the case of Valentin Laktionov, the deputy head of the Donetsk city “administration,” arrested on July 19, 2016, on charges of fraud over “humanitarian aid” medicines arriving from Russia. According to the documentation, the medicines were supposed to be distributed free of charge to medical institutions in Donetsk, whereas in reality they were sold through the network of pharmacies. Attempts by Laktionov’s patrons in the “DNR” leadership to “hush up” the case have met with a tough response from Russian “supervisors” demanding severe punishment for this “official.” The Moscow representatives believe that looting of “humanitarian aid” sent from Russia to the “DNR” has become so prevalent that it requires a series of criminal show trials and court rulings against the local high-level “officials” involved in this type of fraud.

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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