Voices of Ukraine

Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
05.18.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas continue to grossly violate the Minsk Agreements, firing on the ATO forces’ positions and civilian targets. During the past 24 hours, the main hot spots were areas close to Avdiivka, Opytne, Zaitseve, Hranitne, Novotroitske, and Luhanske.

Illegal armed gangs are trying to gain control of the high grounds near Dokuchajevsk; Ukrainian troop strongholds were shelled from 120 mm mortars in this area. The ATO forces’ positions north and south of Novotroitske also continue coming under fire.

Photo from hilltops in the Dokuchajevsk countryside. Photo from social media

Terrorists were observed using heavy machine guns and stand-mounted grenade launchers near Zaitseve. From the direction of the Yasynuvata Junction, enemy forces used 2B9 “Vasilek” 82-mm automatic mortars and stand-mounted grenade launchers against Ukrainian armed forces units deployed in the Avdiivka area.

Russian-terrorist forces continue engineering work to improve their positions. Fortifications are being strengthened near Bezimenne, Kominternove, and opposite Talakivka.

In the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk, a new militant mobile mortar unit has been spotted, using six 2B9 “Vasilek” mortars, mounted on transporters. The accumulation of stocks of supplies, fuel and lubricants continues in the Debaltseve and Starobesheve areas.

Results of shelling in Donetsk, May 18, 2016. Photo

A convoy arrived from the Russian Federation in Novoazovsk across the Russian-Ukrainian border,  consisting of buses with personnel (about 60 Russian Federation Armed Forces servicemen) and two loaded army trucks.

The supply of additional weaponry to illegal armed gangs continues along the Alchevsk–Stakhanov direction of operations, where we observed movements of an armored vehicle convoy (up to five BTR-80’s and four MT-LB’s), and up to ten tented army trucks. Russian-terrorist troops deployed along the Severskyi Donets River in the Novotoshkivka–Stanytsia Luhanska area are being rotated and reinforced; new units, up to one company in strength, have been spotted here.

Militants of the so-called “1st DNR Army Corps” and “2nd LNR Army Corps” armed gangs are spreading rumors of “Arab mercenaries” and employees of American private military companies arriving to join the ATO forces’ units near the demarcation line.  Another rumor circulating through terrorist circles says that the leaders of the terrorist organizations “DNR” and “LNR,” namely, Alexander Zakharchenko and Ihor Plotnitskiy, will be replaced within the next two months by officials from the Russian Federation (no names given).

The so-called “LNR Ministry of State Security (MGB)” continues fabricating accusations of terrorism and sabotage by the Ukrainian side in the occupied territory. The “MGB” staff are currently holding three alleged “saboteurs from the Special Forces Troops (SSO) and Ukrainian State Security (SBU),” planning to publicly “expose” their attempted assassination of OSCE observers and attempted bombing of coal mines.

The fight continues among the armed gangs in the “LNR” over redistribution of the contraband fuel market. A dispute with a shoot-out erupted between armed gang members in southern Luhansk oblast over the transit rights for two fuel tankers entering the “LNR” from the Russian Federation.

The shortage of medicines and medical supplies in public healthcare facilities in Makiivka and Horlivka has become critical. Efforts to arrange shipments from the Russian Federation have been unsuccessful – the shipments were looted by militants on the way from the Russian Federation

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
GUR – Defense Intelligence
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

This translation work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The rights pertaining to the original work remain unaffected.

Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
05.12.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas continue firing on Ukrainian troop positions and settlements in the areas adjacent to the demarcation line in the ATO zone. Terrorists mainly used small arms, including heavy machine guns, the on-board weapons of armored combat vehicles, stand-mounted anti-personnel and anti-tank grenade launchers, and 82-mm and 120-mm mortars.

Near Mar’inka, militants fired from the direction of the “Krokodil” [waste bank], using two heavy machine guns and AGS-17’s. South of Donetsk (the Hranitne – Staromarivka area), SPG-9M’s were used. Small arms fire came from an enemy infantry group (5-6 personnel firing from the “greenery,” not only in the direction of Ukrainian troop positions, but also along the front line and at their own rear – it is possible that militants were under the influence of alcohol or drugs). Near Avdiivka, the enemy deployed 82 mm and 120 mm mortars as well as stand-mounted grenade launchers. Close to Luhanske, an enemy infantry group, under covering fire from a BMP-1, advanced to the neutral zone from the direction of Nyzhnje Lozove and fired intensively, using small arms. Near Shchastya, the enemy delivered heavy fire from small arms and underbarrel grenade launchers. In the Dokuchajevsk and Novotroitske areas, heavy machine guns and 82 mm mortars were used against one of the ATO forces’ positions located close to the Tsentralnyy Karyer; Ukrainian troop strongholds also came under sniper fire. On the Shyrokyne–Sakhanka stretch, we recorded unaimed machine gun and rifle fire; additionally, in the coastal direction of operations, the enemy used ZU-23-2’s, stand-mounted grenade launchers, and 82 mm mortars.

The militants continue to actively reconnoiter the ATO forces’ combat formations at the tactical and operational-tactical levels. UAV flights were observed in two instances, west of Donetsk (flying along the Pisky–Selydove direction), and to the north and northwest of Horlivka. Terrorists are trying hard to identify the command system and deployment positions for main and reserve control and command points, as well as the deployment of the ATO forces’ reserves at operational and tactical control levels.

Militants are regrouping their troops and equipment in expectation of the ATO forces’  mythical, large-scale offensive in the vicinity of Horlivka and in the Yasynuvata–Avdiivka area. According to Russian-terrorist troop command, Ukrainian troops are expected to break through towards Yasynuvata and the southwestern outskirts of Horlivka.

Russian-terrorist forces’ command is taking steps to prevent “creeping de-occupation.” In particular, the “1st DNR Army Corps” command has issued units under its control with orders that cite the absolute need to prevent “enemy units (i.e. the Ukrainian Armed Forces) from seizing settlements, border sections and positions in the so-called grey zone.” The documents mention examples of “aggressive behavior” by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which allegedly have violated “international agreements” by occupying a number of positions and settlements designated as “neutral” (in reality, the protocols of the Minsk Agreement contain no mention of the concept of “neutral settlements” in the ATO zone).

In the “state security authorities” (the “Ministry of State Security” or the “MGB”) of both the “DNR” and “LNR,” rumors are picking up about an imminent “purging of the ranks,” presented as re-certification, supposedly scheduled for June 2016. According to “MGB” personnel, the “purge” will focus on the employees from among the traitors, who had previously served in the security services of Ukraine (SBU). The rumors are causing panic among the latter. Combined with these rumors, there has been a sharp increase in the number of Russian FSB “supervisors” and “instructors” arriving from Russia to join departments of the “DNR MGB” and “LNR MGB.”

A group of Russian specialists in information and psychological operations (IPsO or PSYOP) and Public Relations (PR) deployed to the “DNR” has developed the concept for “information offensive operations,” which has been approved by the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation and is currently being implemented by “DNR” leaders. The main target audience of the operation is the population of the unoccupied [Ukraine-controlled] Ukrainian territories (primarily in the eastern and southern regions). The two main directions of the operation are: pushing any issues to show that the Ukrainian leadership has squandered Maidan’s achievements (lack of punishment for former government officials, corruption, lack of reforms); and capitalizing on socioeconomic problems. As part of the first stage of the operation, the “DNR” leaders held a “phone-in” with residents of the unoccupied territories.

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
GUR – Defense Intelligence
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

This translation work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The rights pertaining to the original work remain unaffected.

Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
05.10.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the shellings and provocations in the ATO zone, Russian-terrorist troops continue using small arms (including heavy machine guns), stand-mounted grenade launchers (in three recorded instances, including antipersonnel AGS-17 type, and anti-tank SPG-9M type), ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannons, and the on-board weaponry of armored vehicles. In addition to that, militants continue actively employing small infantry groups and DRGs to reconnoiter the ATO forces’ advanced positions and combat lines in the tactical depth. Terrorist sniper groups were active on some stretches.

The greatest Russian-terrorist troop activity is observed in the areas of Avdiivka, Novotroitske, Mar’inka, the stretch between Luhanske and Svitlodarsk, Shyrokyne, and Starohnativka.

In an area southeast of Luhanske, militants continue shelling the ATO forces’ advanced strongholds and observation points, using, among others, sniper weapons, grenade launchers, and the on-board weapons of armored vehicles (BMP-2). The enemy’s sabotage and reconnaissance groups have sharply stepped up their activity on the Lozove–Svitlodarsk–Sanzharivka stretch.

The situation remains tense in the vicinity of Avdiivka‘s “industrial zone” and adjacent areas (militants mainly operate from the “greenery”), as well as southwest of Avdiivka, as far as Pisky. In the vicinity of Mar’inka and Krasnohorivka, militants are also employing snipers and DRGs, while south of Donetsk (near Novotroitske and Berezove), terrorists are shelling Ukrainian advanced positions in permanent mode, using heavy machine guns and SPG-9M.

Further south, in the coastal regions, [we recorded] shellings from AGS-17’s, heavy machine guns, SPG-9M’s, and the on-board weapons of armored vehicles.

“DNR” units continue attempts to observe and track down the Ukrainian troop control and command points, as well as their movement in Donbas, using UAVs and radio surveillance stations. When tracking the movement of the ATO forces’ units, terrorists mainly continue focusing on the points of aggregation of active mobile phones. The effectiveness of this method decreased sharply after strict regulations were enforced concerning the use of mobile communication by Ukrainian military servicemen in the ATO zone. The “DNR military intelligence” units have mentioned this multiple times in their recent reports to their Russian supervisors.

The “DNR,” using militant-controlled media and social networks, is actively spreading information that militants allegedly destroyed a large number of combat equipment and “punisher” [Ukrainian Armed Forces] personnel by a “large-scale retaliatory artillery strike” against one of the Ukrainian Army units “involved in the shelling of Olenivka.” According to the IR Group’s information, these reports are false.

Yesterday, May 9th, in the Kuibyshevskiy district of Donetsk, after the “Victory Day military parade,” two “servicemen of the Army of the DNR” who had taken part in the “parade,” were celebrating with a drink and in the process got robbed by their new drinking buddies from the local population. A group of terrorist was letting off shots in the air while intoxicated as part of the celebration, and a “DNR” militant received a gunshot wound (shattered collarbone) as a result.

The “DNR” leadership continues increasing the combat capacity of its “”marines” units. The latest joint training of the “DNR marines” and the Russian Armed Forces marine units between Bezimenne and Samsonove (Novoazovskiy district) involved the use of a small craft (“landing assault craft”), four BMP-2’s, and a Zoopark-1 target locating and fire control system [a counter-battery mobile radar system]. The focus of the training were firing exercises with the use of BMP’s and small arms. Simultaneously with firing exercises, personnel practiced beach landings (the assault craft would approach the shore at low speed, and groups of 10-15 personnel would perform the landing and practice various aspects of capturing and holding a beachhead).

The “LNR” leadership sent out an instruction to the units of the “LNR 2nd AC,” informing that units of “Turkish terrorists” from the Grey Wolves (Bozkurtlar) organization as well as a “brigade of Baltic mercenaries” are supporting the ATO forces near the demarcation line in the vicinity of Stanytsia Luhanska. Militants attempted to relocate local civilians from settlements near the demarcation line, under the pretext of “rescuing them from the mercenaries.”

Photo: Dmitry Kapustin. On National Guard watch in Berdyansk, Ukraine October 2015

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
GUR – Defense Intelligence
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

This translation work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. The rights pertaining to the original work remain unaffected.