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)
12.23.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the shelling of ATO forces’  positions and civilian targets in Donbas, Russian-terrorist forces are increasingly using heavy weapons (122 mm artillery and tanks). Militants and Russian servicemen returned these weapons to positions in many areas along the demarcation line. In addition, Russian-terrorist forces have significantly increased the number of tactical offensive attacks.

Taking advantage of the fact that Ukrainian troops overall comply with the conditions of the Minsk agreements (with the exception of return fire), the militants are expanding the territory of areas under their control by moving their units into the gray area (the IR group warned about a possibility of such actions three months ago). Under these circumstances, the ability of such ineffective instruments, like the OSCE and the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire, to solve the problem raises serious doubts. No adequate retaliatory actions by Ukrainian military leadership are currently observed.

In particular, in the area of Kominternove, a company from a battalion of militants stationed near the Novoazovsk – Telmanove highway moved into the neutral zone under the covering fire of reactive batteries (3 MLRS BM-21 “Grad” in positions eastward of Dzerzhynsk). At the same time, the reinforcement of militant units was detected along the Zaichenko–Sakhanka ridge – eight APCs (four BMP-1 and BMP-2 and four MT-LBs) were transferred to the right flank from the direction of Vesele and Krasnoarmiisk during the past 24 hours. North of Sakhanka, two tanks and a MT-LB were detected in camouflaged positions.

The militants carry on constant shelling in the entire area from Mari’nka to the northern outskirts of  Horlivka (including Mari’nka, Krasnohorivka, Pisky, Opytne, Avdiivka, Novhorodske, Shumy, Mayorsk, Zaitseve).

The militants are widely using mortars and grenade launchers in the region of Mari’nka and Krasnohorivka. In the area of the Donetsk airport and the settlement of Opytne, several militant firing groups were observed, including [militants] in armored vehicles. They carried out attacks with small arms, mortars, grenade launchers, and the on-board weapons of their APCs.

Between Kirove and Novoselivka (west of Horlivka), the enemy used 122 mm artillery twice, in addition to mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

South of Donetsk, in the area of Starokhnativka and Hranitne, an increase in terrorist activity was observed; terrorist forces in the coastal areas regrouped and carried out attacks (including with 82 mm mortars); militants in the area of the Svitlodarsk bridgehead used mortars and, occasionally, ZU-23-2. In the area of Zhovanka–Zaitseve, terrorist tanks fired at two of the ATO forces’ advanced strongholds (eight shots with HEF projectiles) under cover of a ZU-23-2.

In addition, regular shelling resumed in the area of Shchastya and Stanytsia Luhanska (with small arms, and occasionally 120 mm mortars). In the area of Shchastya, an armed confrontation was observed between Ukrainian troops’ battlefield security and a DRG unit of Russian special forces that attempted to infiltrate the rear of the ATO forces. As a result of massive small arms fire by Ukrainian troops, the enemy retreated behind its lines.

The regrouping of militants continues in the area south of Donetsk, as far as the Dokuchajevsk quarries. In the area south of Olenivka (from Yasne) to Oleksandrivka, militants deployed at least 15 additional ACVs (mainly BMPs and MT-LBs).

Photograph by Kiborgy_DAP

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Glossary:
ACV – armored combat vehicle
ATO – Anti-Terrorist Operation
BMP – infantry fighting vehicle
BTR, APC – armored personnel carrier
DNR – “Donetsk People’s Republic”
DRG – sabotage and reconnaissance group
LNR – “Luhansk People’s Republic”
MT-LB – light multipurpose tracked vehicle
MLRS – multiple-launch rocket systems

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)
12.18.2015
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 continuing to actively fire on Ukrainian troop positions and civilian targets (mainly using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortars). Most attacks are carried out haphazardly, without coordination between individual armed gangs.

The presence of individual tanks and artillery pieces (mostly 100 mm MT-12 “Rapira” [“Rapier”] anti-tank guns) can be observed on several sections of the front line. The weapons are mainly in camouflaged positions. At the same time, militants continue to transfer heavy weaponry to the front line.

During the past 24 hours, militants fired particularly actively on ATO forces’ positions near Pisky (using 82-mm mortars, heavy machine guns, and AGS-17 stand-mounted automatic grenade launchers – a minimum of three). Several enemy mobile infantry groups have been spotted on the stretch between Pisky and Avdiivka, where they tried covertly approaching Ukrainian troop positions and firing on ATO forces’ positions from within the neutral zone. In most cases, these groups operate under the cover of 82 mm mortars and Zu-23-2 anti-aircraft cannons. Snipers have also been identified among these groups.

Militants used 120 mm mortars near Avdiivka. Fire strikes were also recorded near Verkhnotoretske (small arms), close to the “Pivdenna” mine and to the village of Shumy (firing from the on-board weapons of a BTR-80 APC, and from SPG-9 grenade launchers), Zaitseve (82 mm mortars), Luhanske (from the direction of Sanzharivka and Nyzhnje Lozove, from 82 mm mortars and heavy machine guns), and Novhorodske.

Terrorists sharply intensified all forms of intelligence activities – ground, air, and radiotechnical.

The command structures of the two “army corps” (of the “DNR” and “LNR”) are actively continuing to spread rumors of a build-up of manpower and hardware by Ukrainian troops along the demarcation line, in preparation for a large-scale offensive. Attempts by Russian “supervisors” and “advisers” to refute the rumors meet with skepticism and incomprehension on the part of the leaders of the armed gangs.

The terrorists continue actively redeploying troops and resources. This includes moving heavy weaponry to the front line which should have been withdrawn from the demarcation line under the Minsk agreements:

• South of Staromykhailivka, the repositioning of three BM-21 “Grad” MLRS and two MT-LBs has been noted. Four Ural trucks with militant munitions and troops (one carrying a ZU-23-2), two BTR-80 and a BRDM-2 combat reconnaissance patrol vehicle arrived in Spartak. A militant combined unit (about one platoon in strength) arrived in the Trudovski district (Donetsk) equipped with small arms, AGS-17 stand-mounted automatic grenade launchers and SPG-9 recoilless guns (at least four details).

• A militant tactical group occupying positions along the Oktyabr – Zaichenko – Leninske – Sakhanka line (approxiamtely two companies) is redeploying the military hardware on its right flank during nighttime. Armored vehicles are being repositioned along the “front line” northwards and southwards (three to four vehicles per night – mainly MT-LB, BMP-1, and BMP-2). The repositioning of terrorist tanks has also been observed within this area.

• Militants continue delivering ammunition to the artillery group positioned on the south-eastern outskirts of Horlivka. Convoys of 4–5 trucks are arriving from Debaltseve (three convoys in the past two days), mainly consisting of open Ural trucks and several tented Kamaz trucks.

• Militants have brought in reinforcements from the direction of Styla towards Dokuchajevsk – two MT-LB (both carrying 120 mm mortars and militants). According to our preliminary information, the enemy is gradually concentrating a fire strike group near Dokuchajevsk.

• Militants are transferring reinforcements to areas south of Donetsk. In the past 24 hours, these included four BMP-2, two MT-LB, Kamaz trucks, and two Ural trucks, moving from the Kiltseva Doroha [Ring Road] to Olenivka.

• Terrorist reinforcements have arrived at positions near Staromarivka. This militant group is up to one platoon in strength and includes at least three 82 mm mortars.

The “DNR Ministry of Defence” intends to conclude a deal with the “Luhansk Cartridge Works” PJSC for the supply of five thousand 9 mm cartridges (“Luger” 9×19) to use in the testing of a new weapon prototype – a new small arms weapon developed at one of the factories in Donetsk. However, under the “current legislation” of the “LNR,” “Luhansk Cartridge Works” has not yet received an “LNR” license to export munitions.

In a number of “DNR” armed gangs, dissatisfaction is growing with the chronic delays in the payment of “soldiers’ allowances.” Currently, militant pay rates in the so-called “Army of the DNR” are 15,000 rubles [$208] for privates and 20,000 rubles [$278] for non-commissioned officers.

“DNR” ringleaders have prohibited export of maize and buckwheat seed from the temporarily occupied territories until 10.01.2016. In addition, starting 01.01.2016, there is a plan to levy a “customs duty” on goods and vehicles imported to the temporarily occupied territories.

Source: RFERL.org

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Glossary:
ACV – armored combat vehicle
ATO – Anti-Terrorist Operation
BMP – infantry fighting vehicle
BTR, APC – armored personnel carrier
DNR – “Donetsk People’s Republic”
DRG – sabotage and reconnaissance group
LNR – “Luhansk People’s Republic”
MT-LB – light multipurpose tracked vehicle
MLRS – multiple-launch rocket systems

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

Information Resistance group
12.16.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

(See end of post for acronym glossary)

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist forces continue to fire on ATO forces’ positions in order to provoke Ukrainian troops into the full-scale use of lethal force. Militants use 82 and 120 mm mortars, anti-tank and anti-personnel grenade launchers, small arms and heavy machine guns, anti-tank rocket systems and the on-board automatic cannons of BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles. Carefully camouflaged tanks and heavy artillery (MT-12 “Rapira”) have been observed on the terrorists’ front line.

Increased activity by the aggressor’s sabotage and reconnaissance groups has been noted in several sectors. They lay minefields in the neutral zone, conduct reconnaissance of ATO forces’ combat formations in the tactical and tactical-operational depth by using both electronic intelligence equipment and UAVs [drones]. The intelligence agencies of the “LNR” and “DNR” terrorist organizations use the data obtained from locals travelling to and from the liberated territories in their efforts to assess and detect advanced Ukrainian troop units.

Ukrainian troop strongholds near Zhovanka, Zaitseve, Shumy, and Hladosove came under fire from small arms and heavy machine guns, AGS-17 stand-mounted automatic grenade launchers and ZU-32-2 anti-aircraft cannons. In the past 24 hours, at least two militant infantry groups fired on ATO forces’ positions in the vicinity of Pisky.

Terrorists carried out fire strikes from the direction of Nyzhnje Lozove, elevation 307.9 meters, and Sanzharivka–Pol’ove with 120 mm mortars, which should have been withdrawn from the demarcation line in compliance with the Minsk agreements. ATO forces positions were also shelled near the Svitlodarsk bridgehead, to the east and north of Avdiivka. Militants fired at our positions in the area of Opytne and the Donetsk Bypass from the area of the Donetsk airport and Spartak. The use of 82 and 120 mm caliber mortars and BMP-2 standard weapons were recorded in this area.

In the area of Novhorodske, a tank and two BMP-2s made a demonstrative move on the leading edge of the front. The movement of an MT-LB and two BTR-80s was detected near Hranitne. Two 120 mm mortars proceeded towards Spartak on a trailer. Terrorists are moving equipment to the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk along the railway track. Four BMP-2, an MT-LB, and two “Ural” trucks with covered mortars were seen being redeployed on a trailer. On the Bakhmut highway, 12 army trucks with personnel were detected; [the trucks] proceeded in the direction of Frunze, Zhelobok, Donetsk while two “KAMAZ” [cargo trucks] and two MT-LB were being moved in the opposite direction.

At the Yasynuvata Machine Building Plant, repairs of the armored vehicles of illegal armed groups are being carried out. Four BMP-1 and BMP-2, five MT-LB, two tanks, six army trucks and a BAT-2 are currently in the shop.

Source: Sprotyv.info

Glossary:
ACV – armored combat vehicle
ATO – Anti-Terrorist Operation
BMP – infantry fighting vehicle
BTR, APC – armored personnel carrier
DNR – “Donetsk People’s Republic”
DRG – sabotage and reconnaissance group
LNR – “Luhansk People’s Republic”
MT-LB – light multipurpose tracked vehicle
MLRS – multiple-launch rocket systems

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