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)
04.15.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

An increase in the intensity of shelling by Russian-terrorist forces was noted in the ATO zone. Militants are using mortars (including 120 mm), armored vehicles (including tanks), ZU-23-2’s and, from time to time, cannon artillery (mainly for the purpose of range-finding in relation to reference points and coordinates).

During the past 24 hours, militants actively shelled the “industrial zone” in Avdiivka from mortars of both calibers (82 mm and 120 mm). They also intensively shelled a number of adjacent and flanking positions (for example, the Ukrainian troop position near the air collector of the Butovka mine twice came under fire from terrorist grenade launchers, 82 mm automatic 2B9 “Vasilek” mortars and small arms, including machine guns). Near the Avdiivka “industrial zone” itself, several infantry militant groups tried making use of the “greenery” and intense covering fire from heavy machine guns to approach the ATO forces’ positions in order to open fire from close range. All enemy groups were spotted in time, and returned to their original starting point after coming under precision fire by the [Ukrainian] battlefield security.

Near Dokuchajevsk, militants sent a Mobile Fire Team into action: two ZU-23-2’s fired at the ATO forces’ advanced observation posts and strongholds, before quickly changing combat position.

Zaitseve, April 5, 2016. Photo: Boris Pinchuk

Near Zaitseve, a pair of terrorist BMP-2’s opened fire from 30 mm automatic cannons.

In the Luhansk direction of operations, militant DRG’s continue to be active. One of the main objectives of these DRG’s is to establish the fire organization and operation system of advanced Ukrainian troop units.

Near Mar’inka, enemy sniper activity was noted. The ATO forces’ positions near Opytne came under fire from 120 mm mortars.

Starting April 14, units of the “2nd LNR Army Corps (AC)” began a series of battalion tactical exercises (BTE) with live firing near the “Lutuhyne camps” training center. The exercises mainly involved offensive maneuvers, including “negotiating water obstacles.” Militant-controlled media were invited to cover these exercises. According to the IR group’s information, only two battalions are practicing “offensive maneuvers with water obstacle negotiation,” and this aspect of the exercises is a deliberate attempt to “draw the attention” of the Ukrainian command to the section of the front where the demarcation line runs along the Severskyi Donets river’s course. The rest of the [militant] units are not practicing these maneuvers during the exercises.

Earlier, at the militant training ground near Torez, units of two separate motorized rifle brigades of the “1st DNR AC” held a similar series of complex BTE’s, which also emphasized offensive maneuvers. During these combat training events, the 1st and 2nd AC command staffs are focused on boosting the combat capability of several battalion-level units under their command. However, taking into account that only 4 reinforced battalions (Battalion Tactical Groups) in the “DNR” took part in these BTE’s, we can conclude that the training aims to prepare for a limited-scale offensive, tactical level at most.

Zaitseve, April 5, 2016. Photo: Boris Pinchuk

The earlier exhumation of 18 bodies in the Bakhmutskyi district, and their identification as militants of illegal armed gangs (exhumed thanks to the “Black Tulip” volunteer initiative and the Ukrainian Army’s “Evakuatsia-200” search group) did not receive any gratitude from the “DNR,” but triggered an extremely negative response. The “DNR” leaders have instructed militant-controlled media to present the discovered burial site solely as a “mass grave of militia members, tortured to death by the punishers and bearing signs of brutal violence,” and to add this find to the militants’ “list of crimes of the Kyiv junta,” which they intend to submit to the global community. Thus, terrorists are actively using their own battlefield casualties for purely propaganda purposes.

Both of yesterday’s (04.14.2016) rallies in front of the OSCE SMM office in Luhansk – protesting against the OSCE’s work, and the local people’s demands that OSCE “force Kyiv to honor the Minsk agreements” – were the result of orders issued personally by the “LNR” head, Igor Plotnitskiy. They are part of an ongoing media campaign to discredit Ukraine in the context of the Minsk agreements. Synchronized with the “DNR’s” similar actions and directed by these terrorist organizations’ “special services,” the campaign aims to prove “the criminal role of the Kyiv regime in the outbreak and conduct of the war.” It is noteworthy that militant units have received orders from the high commands of the “1st DNR AC” and “2nd LNR AC” to collect “evidence of crimes by the Ukrainian military” for the OSCE.

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)
04.14.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past 24 hours, Russian-terrorist forces in Donbas, in addition to other weapons, used cannon artillery to shell the ATO forces’ positions and civilian objects shelled in at least three instances (152 mm twice, and 122 mm once). In three recorded instances, terrorists also fired from the on-board weapons of BMP-2’s. We continue spotting militant tanks and 120 mm mortars on several sections directly along the front line.

Near Avdiivka, militants continue to actively shell Ukrainian troop positions from positions northeast of Yasynuvata and south of Yakovlivka, using 120 mm and 82 mm mortars and heavy machine guns; additional shelling with AGS-17’s came from two positions located close to the [Yasynuvatya] junction.

Ukrainian troop positions in the Zaitseve–Zhovanka area came under militant fire from 152 mm artillery (about 15 rounds) and 120 mm mortars. Fire came from emplacements southwest of Holmivskyi and the area south of the Terykonna station. Militants also used 152 mm artillery near Opytne. The ATO forces’ positions between Pisky and Vodyane were shelled from 122 mm guns (up to 10 rounds).

Zaitseve, April 5, 2016. Photo: Boris Pinchuk

Terrorist tanks were present in several sections at once: namely, near Yakovlivka, Kruta Balka, Putylivka (Donetsk), the Petrovskyi district (of Donetsk), the Dokuchajevsk area, the Styla district, the Bezimenne–Zaichenko district (on several positions simultaneously), the northern part of Horlivka, and a number of other locales.

Militant DRG activity continues to increase, most noticeably along the Severskyi Donets river, especially near crossing points.

In the “DNR,” hysteria about the “Right Sector (RS)” is once again gaining momentum. Even internal command staff reports of several brigades in the “1st [DNR] Army Corps,” now mention the mythical “RS brigades,” allegedly preparing for an offensive with support from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The so-called “DNR military intelligence” reports that units of the “Right Sector” have suddenly appeared on many sections – near Mariupol, Horlivka, west of Donetsk, and elsewhere. According to the “DNR” reports, the total number of “Right Sector” fighters, at the very least, exceeds the Army Corps size – which clearly reflects the poor professional level of the militants’ so-called “military intelligence.”

In the “1st DNR Army Corps,” the 5th and 7th separate motorized rifle battalions are being actively resupplied with personnel (mercenaries arriving from Russia) and military equipment (also brought in from Russia). The “1st AC” command has also decided to combine all tanks (which were previously operating as part of separate terrorist armored groups and infantry formations) into separate tank battalions of the motorized rifle brigades. They are currently considering creating a separate tank brigade (or reforming an existing motorized rifle brigades accordingly).

Russian tanks in Mospyne, April 6, 2016. Source

Large formations of Russian mercenaries from the Russian Federation are being transferred to Kirovske (Donetsk oblast) through Shakhtarsk. The militants total up to one thousand in number.

According to the “DNR Ministry of State Security (MGB),” instances of civilian homicide committed by militants have recently increased, largely cases of domestic violence committed under the influence of alcohol. At the behest of the “DNR” chieftain, Alexander  Zakharchenko, the “DNR MIA [Ministry of Internal Affairs]” and “DNR MGB” are required to take steps to conceal information about such cases in order to avoid a public outcry.

Across the so-called “DNR,” heightened social tensions are apparent among industrial workers due to job cuts and the chronic non-payment of wages. At the “Ordzhonikidzeugol” enterprise (Yenakijeve) and “Uglegorskaya” mine (Vuhlehirsk) alone, wage arrears stand at RUR 119 mil [USD 1.79 mil] (with social benefits) or RUR 84.404 mil [USD 1.27 mil] (excluding social benefits). At the “DFDK” JSC (Dokuchajevskyi fluxing stone and dolomite works) in Dokuchajevsk, 600 jobs are to be cut.

In Donetsk, 27 companies have either completely or significantly reduced their operations, leading to significant staff cuts (particularly at the subsidiary of “Chumakovskaya” Central [Ore] Concentration Factory; “Energoimpex” JSC, “PO TK-Donbas” JSC [cardboard-paper factory in Donetsk]; “Donetsk-Vtorma” LLC; “Agatis Woodworking Plant” LLC and others).

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)
04.12.2016
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past 24 hours, Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas were active on multiple stretches along the demarcation line, mainly in the Donetsk and Mariupol directions of operation. Militants actively used small arms, grenade launchers, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, and the on-board weapons of ACVs in the shellings. No use of tanks or cannon artillery was recorded.

Militants shelled the “industrial zone” of Avdiivka from 120 mm mortars from positions southeast of Yasynuvata junction, and from heavy machine guns and AGS-17’s, from the direction of the 251.2 m high ground. Terrorists also used machine guns and grenade launchers in the vicinity of the Butovka mine ventilation shaft.

House hit by mortar strike in Avdiivka, April 9, 2016. Woman living here was killed instantly, 3 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded. Video by Maxim Tucker

In the vicinity of Pisky, militants used 82 mm automatic mortars (“Vasilek” 2B9) from the direction of the private residences sector, south of the Volvo Center, and the DAP. In this area, we observed attempts by small enemy groups to enter the neutral zone in order to shell the ATO forces’ advanced positions (in all cases, [these groups] were met with heavy small arms fire and fell back to their original positions).

In the area of Dokuchajevsk, the ATO forces’ advanced stronghold southeast of Novotroitske was shelled by a militant BMP-2, which deployed its on-board weapons from a camouflaged position. Terrorists also used the on-board weaponry of armored combat vehicles in the vicinity of Luhanske (fire was unsighted).

The “hunt” for the mythical “NATO snipers” in the “DNR” is accompanied by an information campaign about the alleged used of “American air drones” by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The rumors circulating among the militants claim that these drones are equipped with spray dispensers of a secret virus created in the US military labs. Interestingly enough, similar rumors are being spread not only through the “DNR” terrorist units, but also among residents of the frontline areas of the occupied territory. The “DNR Ministry of State Security” is receiving messages from citizens with “reports” about such drones (in addition to the “secret virus,” citizen reports also frequently mention the syphilis agent, also allegedly being sprayed by the drones).

The “DNR” leadership wrapped up the results of the “Night City” operation conducted in Donetsk during March, aimed at seeking out and neutralizing “Ukrainian spies.” During the operation, four local citizens (including one woman) were shot and killed by militants after curfew – all four were declared “agents of the SBU and the Right Sector.” The operation was declared a success, and a decision was made to hold similar operations in other settlements, such as Makiivka, Horlivka, etc.

During the past 48 hours, some 430 tons of diesel fuel, up to 10 motor vehicles, 12 tanks, and 18 pieces of other armored equipment arrived to the “DNR” from Russia, through Ilovaisk. Five rail cars’ worth of ammunition arrived from Russia and were unloaded in Debaltseve. Also, two cisterns of gasoline arrived in Krasnodon for the needs of the “LNR.”

Terrorist base (former National Guard base) in occupied Donetsk. Source

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.