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)
11.27.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past few days, militants have been observed using the same tactic against Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) forces on several sections of the “front line” in Donbas. Groups of Russian-terrorist infantry troops approach Ukrainian troop positions with a view to open fire at them under cover of armored vehicles (mainly BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and BTR armored personnel carriers), which are also used to improve the mobility of the firing groups operating directly on the front line. Terrorists mainly use small arms (including heavy machine guns), as well as mortars, grenade launchers and anti-aircraft guns.

For example, in the coastal regions, north of Sakhanka, a militant group operating under covering fire from a BTR-80 armored personnel carrier, recently attempted to penetrate the ATO forces’ combat formations. While intense fire from the armored personnel carrier’s on-board guns “diverted the attention” of the Ukrainian troops’ battlefield security, the militant group tried infiltrating the ATO tactical forces’ rear from the treeline. After these maneuvers were quickly spotted by look-outs among battlefield security, soldiers of one of the advanced Ukrainian units opened sustained fire from machine-guns and automatic rifles. Following the firefight, militants retreated to their initial line.

Militants operated similarly in the area north of the Donetsk International Airport (DAP). Supported by three BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, militants tried advancing from Spartak and the destroyed DAP radar installation, towards Opytne. Their movements were covered by intense militant fire from both flanks (AGS-17 stand-mounted automatic grenade launchers and ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns were used). Fire was returned and, as a result of the ensuing firefight, militants retreated to their starting point.

North of Avdiivka, a militant group moved stealthily into the neutral zone and took up positions 200-300 meters from a Ukrainian troop stronghold. After unsighted firing on the stronghold from 82 mm mortars, the militant group opened heavy fire from machine guns and automatic rifles, as well as hand-held grenade launchers. Following a half-hour firefight, militants withdrew.

A skirmish was recorded near Krasnohorivka. In addition to small arms, militants used 82 mm mortars and SPG-9 “Kopye [Spear]” recoilless guns.

Terrorists also fired on the ATO forces’ positions near Pisky, Avdiivka, Mar’inka, Novhorodske and Shumy.

Militants have brought reinforcements into the Vtoraya Ploshchadka housing estate in Donetsk: at least two ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns (on a vehicle), a mortar battery of four 2B9 “Vasilyok [Cornflower]” 82-mm mortars, and up to 100 personnel. Armored vehicles have been spotted close to the Chervonoarmiiske highway: four BTR-70s and 80s, two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and four MT-LB light-armored multipurpose transporters. Militants are withdrawing further back from the demarcation line a part of the heavy armor and artillery previously observed in “Putilovsky Wood Park” (Kyivskyi district of] Donetsk), where terrorists had previously set up a “marshalling area” for materiel used in the fighting for Avdiivka, Opytne and Pisky. In the past 24 hours, six D-30 and D-30A 122-mm guns and two MT-LB transporters have been removed to the area of Partizanskyi Avenue and Davydenka Street [both in the Kyivskyi district of Donetsk].

Militants continue to strengthen their positions between the Mariupol – Krasnoarmiiske  and Mariupol – Novoazovsk highways along the Zaichenko – Dzerzhynsk – Leninske – Sakhanka – Shyrokyne axis. The arrival of an armored vehicle group (four BBM armored combat vehicles) has been noted in Zaichenko; while a further three BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles have appeared at positions in Sakhanka and north of the settlement. At present, terrorists have withdrawn most of their heavy armor in the coastal regions beyond the Novoazovsk – Telmanove – Donetsk highway. Active on the front line are mostly enemy mobile groups that are equipped with mortars and stand-mounted automatic grenade launchers and based at several strongholds. Nevertheless, part of the heavy armor (including tanks: despite their announced removal, at least six tanks have been recorded along this stretch) remains on the front line.

A “mixed commission” of officials from the Russian Federation and “Donetsk People’s Republic [DNR]” has arrived in Horlivka. The arrived convoy consisted of two buses with tinted windows and seven jeeps escorted by two BTR-80 armored personnel carriers and two Russian GAZ-2330 “Tiger” armored fighting vehicles. The “commission” representatives only move around with an increased security escort. Earlier, sources of the IR group in the “DNR” administration reported that several “high-ranking officials” of the so-called “Ministry of State Security of the DNR” and their Russian “supervisors” traveled to Horlivka from Donetsk.

Militant units at positions between Dokuchajevsk, Novolaspa and Bila Kamyanka have received additional reinforcements of several infantry groups (infantry platoons of 25-30 personnel). Each group (platoon) consists of both local militants trained in Donbas training camps as well as Russian mercenaries. Furthermore, new infantry fighting vehicles and MT-LB transporters (five vehicles in total) have appeared at several positions on this stretch, to join the armored vehicles concentrated there earlier.

The “DNR” military command has demanded – from the heads of companies of all forms of ownership in the areas controlled by the “DNR” – to provide data about their vehicle fleets, supposedly to create a general register of “mobilizable vehicle resources.” Previously, “registers” such as this compiled in various other localities were actively used by militants to illegally commandeer vehicles for their own use.

Remains of the Butovska mine, northern outskirts of Donetsk. Photo source

Remains of the Butovska mine, northern outskirts of Donetsk. Photo source

Remains of the Butovska mine, northern outskirts of Donetsk. Photo source

Remains of the Butovska mine, northern outskirts of Donetsk. Photo source

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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)
11.26.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Militants are still using artillery units and keeping them in positions on the [neutral] strip along the demarcation line, from which artillery and armored vehicles should have been withdrawn according to the Minsk agreements. Thus, the IR group’s network recorded 14 units of towed artillery and a terrorist MLRS unit (6 pieces) near Spartak (Donetsk). The latter unit was used by terrorists yesterday, 11.25.2015, to fire on the settlement of Horlivka as a provocation.

Militants, in spite of the “ceasefire” announced by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, continued actively firing on ATO forces’ positions in several sections simultaneously (including from 82 mm and 120 mm, as well as ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, which, supposedly, have been withdrawn).

In a number of sections, terrorists continue operating at the front line and along the neutral strip in small infantry groups, from 8-10 personnel to a reinforced platoon (30 and more personnel), carrying out various tasks – from sudden precision firing on the ATO forces’ advanced positions, to reconnaissance of the Ukrainian troops’ combat lines through covert surveillance. Militants are also actively using their DRGs (sabotage and reconnaissance groups) in attempts to covertly mine the nearest approaches to ATO forces’ strongholds, checkpoints and communication lines in the nearest tactical rear, etc.

During the past 24 hours, militants repeatedly attempted to “infiltrate” small infantry groups across the line of advanced positions of Ukrainian troops (in the areas of Bolotenne, Syze, and north of Avdiivka). In the vicinity of Syze, terrorists opened fire from 82 mm mortars (3-4 units) on the ATO forces’ positions located southeast of Bolotenne (as a diversion). After that, two groups of 15-20 personnel, operating from the Khryashchivka – Berehove direction under covering fire of up to four AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers, attempted to approach Ukrainian troop positions to reach effective small arms range, and to break through between Syze and Bolotenne. Militants were stopped by the heavy small arms fire of the ATO forces’ advanced unit, and fell back to their original lines after a 30-minute firefight.

In several sections at once, militants are conducting radio reconnaissance and attempting to create radio interference to disrupt the ATO forces’ communication systems. These operations are carried out by units (groups) of specialists from among servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces.

North of Avdiivka, a platoon of militants, supported by two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and 82 mm mortars (5-6 units), attempted to advance from the direction of Shyroka Balka and in the direction of Yurivka, between two ATO forces’ strongholds south of Novhorodske. After heavily firing on the ATO forces’ positions, militants eventually fell back to the western outskirts of Shyroka Balka. IFVs provided supporting fire from their positions.

Militants also fired on the positions of the ATO forces in the vicinity of Sakhanka, Shyrokyne, Krasnohorivka, Pisky (including, in the latter two instances, from ZU-23-2), Opytne, Avdiivka (using at least three 120 mm mortars), and Novhorodske (from the on-board guns of armored vehicles and 82 mm mortars). The ATO forces’ positions near Zaitseve and Hladosove were fired on from the direction of Holmivskyi; small arms fire (including heavy machine guns) was recorded on the stretch between Troitske and Novozvanivka. Militants used AGS-17 grenade launchers and 82 mm mortars to fire on the ATO forces’ positions near Shchastya from the direction of Vesela Hora.

In Donetsk (in the vicinity of Spartak and Donetsk International Airport), militants are rotating the units that regularly fire on and attempt to attack the ATO forces’ positions near Opytne and Pisky. According to our preliminary information, units of different gangs (“separate special purpose battalions”) will be replaced by units of the “motorized rifle brigade” of the “1st Army Corps of the DNR.” South of Stratonavtiv Street (Donetsk), militant armored equipment was spotted while changing position: four BMP-2, two BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, and one Ural truck with ZU-23-2, during the past two days. Beyond the Petrovskyi Bridge, militants are transferring mortar units in the direction of Zhylmaidanchyk [Zhilploshchadka] and Trudovski districts: three mortar units have been transferred over the past 24 hours (each containing 2-3 82 mm Vasilek 2B9 automatic mortars on a trailer).

After the militants transfer armored vehicles to the vicinity of Telmanove (see previous reports of the IR group), fuel shipments are being delivered to the same area. Five fuel tanker trucks were spotted on the march during the past 24 hours.

Repaired armored vehicles are being transferred back to militant units from their repair base in Perevalsk. An armored group consisting of such vehicles (several BTR-80 and two MT-LB) arrived in the vicinity of Zholobok, plus an armored group of five BMP-1, in the vicinity of Frunze.

Pisky. Photograph by Maia Mikhaluk

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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)
11.25.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Rumors are being disseminated among the mid-level command staff of the “DNR” [Donetsk People’s Republic] and the “LNR” [Luhansk People’s Republic] about the preparation of a large-scale offensive by Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas, planned for December 2015. This offensive is allegedly meant to be preventive, to disrupt the offensive [supposedly] planned by the Armed Forces of Ukraine in late December–early January. According to the rumors, a large-scale (nationwide, in some variants of the rumor) mobilization is in the works in Ukraine-controlled territory, due to which male [Ukrainian] citizens aged under 45 are, supposedly, forbidden to leave the territory of Ukraine.

During the past 24 hours, Russian-terrorist troops, in the course of active firing at the ATO forces positions in Donbas, used the “traditional” combination of small arms, grenade launchers, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, ZU-21-2 anti-aircraft guns, and the on-board weaponry of armored combat vehicles.

Namely, terrorist actively fired on the positions of Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk direction. ATO forces’ advanced positions and strongholds were shelled in the vicinity of Pisky, Opytne, Avdiivka (and north of the town); while militants in the area of Mar’inka attempted sniper fire under cover of several 82 mm mortars.

On the section [of the front line] across from Donetsk International Airport (DAP), terrorists used four armored combat vehicles (two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, one BMP-1, and one BTR-80 armored personnel carrier) to shell the ATO forces’ positions. Fire was delivered from previously occupied and camouflaged positions on the front line; after firing, the ACVs promptly retreated behind militant combat lines.

Terrorists shelled the ATO forces’ positions near Shchastya and northeast of Luhanske using small arms (including heavy machine guns), grenade launchers, and 82 mm mortars. In these areas, as well as south of Donetsk, enemy infantry is active at the front line.

Militants also do not cease attempts to engage the advanced positions of the ATO forces with mass grenade launchers and 82 mm mortar fire, in the northern and northwestern outskirts of Horlivka (Mayorsk, Shumy, Novhorodske, Zaitseve). Several enemy infantry groups (up to 20 personnel each) fired from the neutral zone using AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers, RPGs, and SPG stand-mounted grenade launchers.

Militants fired on ATO positions north and northeast of Krasnohorivka from the direction of Staromykhailivka, using 120 mm mortars and stand-mounted grenade launchers.

In Donetsk, militants are actively using Stratonavtiv Street as well as the remains of the Putylivska and Yasynuvatska junctions as a kind of lateral road for transporting personnel and armaments, and for maneuvers of forces and equipment on the stretch between Pisky and Avdiivka. Every day, the transfer of personnel (up to a company), mortars, ZU-23-2 and light armor is observed.

Northeast of Kruta Balka (Yasynuvata district), militants distributed a tactical group throughout ravines and forested areas. The group consists of 14 armored vehicles and up to 150 terrorists, divided into several infantry groups (according to our preliminary information, a battery of 120 mm mortars was also transferred to this area).

In the next week, “LNR” militants are expecting several trains of fuel tankers to arrive at Krasnodon station from Russia, at least 8-10 tankers in each batch. In total, the expected shipment is at least 20 thousand tons of fuel. This fuel is intended for the “needs of the republic” as well as to resupply the fuel stocks of the “2nd Army Corps of the LNR.”

Militant activity is increasing along the Snizhne – Donetsk line. Several militant groups were observed advancing towards the front line in this area.

Russian occupation forces in Donbas. Photo source

Terrorist command transferred a unit of militants (on board of 6 trucks), one MT-LB with a 120 mm mortar, and two BTR-80 armored personnel carriers to the front line section near Styla, from the direction of Starobesheve.

Additional militant forces and equipment are concentrated along the Kalmius river, on the stretch between Pervomaiske and Staromarivka: at least two motorized infantry companies (180 militants concentrated in several areas, plus sixteen armored combat vehicles and transport vehicles, are concentrated and camouflaged east of the Telmanove-Starobesheve motorway). Located beyond this motorway are the positions of a second militant tactical group (including 8 tanks in camouflaged positions), as previously reported by the IR group.

Russian Army spetsnaz in occupied Donbas (photos posted on Nov. 27th, 2015). Source.

We are observing the activity of several militant infantry units (up to one battalion in combined strength), previously transferred to the vicinity of Shyrokyne, Sakhanka, and Zaichenko. These include three mortar batteries (four to six 82 mm and 120 mm mortars in each).

“LNR” insurgents continue transferring reinforcements to the Alchevsk – Stakhanov area, through Antratsyt and Krasnyi Luch. Three 120 mm Nona 2S9 self-propelled guns, 16 vehicles carrying ammunition and supplies, and 8 units of other combat equipment (two MT-LB, three BTR-80, one BMP-1, and two BRM-1K armored recon vehicles) were transferred here over the last two days.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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)
11.24.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

With ongoing active firing on the ATO [anti-terrorist operation] positions and civilian objects [targets], Russian-terrorist troops continue conducting reconnaissance of Ukrainian troop combat formations, and mining local areas. Militants in the first echelon of the front line are actively regrouping and resupplying their forces and assets. At a number of sites, terrorists are equipping positions and areas of the deployment of units, and are creating cover fire lines for these areas.

Thus, during the day, militants have repeatedly opened fire from 82-mm mortars and AGS-17 type automatic heavy grenade launchers in the area west and northwest of Donetsk. In addition, terrorists were actively firing on Ukrainian positions west and north of Horlivka. On the stretch between the southern outskirts of Pisky to the northern outskirts of Avdiivka, attacks on Ukrainian positions were almost uninterrupted, using a variety of weapons, including 82 mm mortars, the on-board weapons of armored combat vehicles (BMP-1 and BMP-2), and grenade launchers – both handheld and mounted (AGS-17, AGS-21 and SPG-9 “Kopye” [“Spear”]).

The use, by militants, of ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns and 120 mm mortars was observed. During the shelling of Ukrainian troop positions, in the direction of Opytne (south of Avdiivka), militants used two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and ZU-23-2 transported aboard a vehicle (army truck).

Militants in the vicinity of Novhorodske used 120 mm mortars in two instances – near Mayorsk and Zaitseve, as before.

During the past 24 hours, in addition to the use of automatic small arms, terrorists also shelled the ATO forces’ positions from 82 mm mortars in the vicinity of Shchastya, and from heavy machine guns, the positions near Krymske, Stanytsia Luhanska, and Syze. Southwest of Luhanske and south of Popasna, militants used automatic grenade launchers. In the coastal regions, fire attacks were recorded near Shyrokyne.

The appearance of several well-trained enemy sniper groups was noted south of Mar’inka, near Pisky and north of Krasnohorivka (militant 82 mm and 120 mm mortar units are providing cover).

In Donetsk, near Shvedova Avenue, a militant armored group (11 armored combat vehicles) was observed transferring in the direction of the “front line.” Militants are concentrating supplies and ammunition in the Kyivskyi, Kirovskyi, and Petrovskyi districts of Donetsk – up to 30 trucks, on average, are arriving every 24 hours.

Militants are actively reinforcing their positions on the stretch between Dokuchajevsk and Olenivka, and further, up to Oleksandrivka (even though a number of terrorist units from these reinforcements are somewhat withdrawn from the front edge, towards Marianivka and Obilne. Light armored vehicles were spotted in the first echelon, at camouflaged positions (at least 3 strongholds in the vicinity of Obilne and Marianivka, with up to 20 armored combat vehicles, mainly MT-LB multi-purpose vehicles and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles). Mortar positions (120 mm mortars) and two camouflaged tanks were also recorded in this area.

A terrorist tank company (8 tanks) was transferred from Ilovaisk towards Starobesheve. North of Metalist (area of Kuteinykove), six 122 mm “Gvozdika” 2S1 self-propelled guns, two MT-LB vehicles and 2 Kamaz trucks were observed on the march to the southern sector of operation. According to the preliminary data of the IR group, this armor and vehicles are intended for inclusion in the composite tactical group of Russian-terrorist troops currently being formed in the vicinity of Telmanove.

Due to the widespread delays in the payment of “wages” to militants, Russian regular army servicemen, who are commanding a number of “DNR” [Donetsk People’s Republic] units staffed by local militants, organized the issue of “food rations:” one can of tinned meat per person per 3 days.

As part of the measures to uncover and neutralize persons with pro-Ukrainian affiliations, the separate battalion group “Somali” (led by [the terrorist] “Givi”) is operating in Horlivka. Its members were granted unlimited authority by [Oleksander] Zakharchenko. The “Somali” group is based at the facilities of “Vuzlivska” central ore processing plant (Horlivka). Cooperation has been set up with the “Corsa” platoon commander and the chieftain of the “DNR unit N08803” (separate motorized infantry brigade N3, based on Horlivka, staffed by 2,400 personnel), general-major of the Russian Armed Forces Ihor Sokolov (callsign “Brest”). In the scope of these measures, the “Somali” group took part in the search of the “Bermudas” entertainment club owned by Yuriy Krykulenko (callsign “Benia,” affiliate of Oleksander Khodakovskiy), in order to force the latter to stop cannibalizing the equipment of the city’s facilities for scrap metal. After the search, “Benia” left the city to avoid arrest. After “Benia’s” departure, “Givi,” together with “Corsa” and “Brest,” started cannibalizing for scrap metal the equipment of “Vuzlivska” and “Kalyninska” ore-processing factories. Such cannibalization and removal of scrap metal take place during night-time (when the curfew is in effect) to avoid attracting the attention of local residents.

Pisky. Photograph by Maia Mikhaluk

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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)
11.23.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas continue to step up their activity, increasing the intensity of their fire on the positions of the Anti-Terrorist Operation [ATO] forces and civilian targets. Firing is carried out with small arms (including heavy machine guns), as well as 82-mm mortars, grenade launchers and the on-board guns of BBM armored fighting vehicles.

During the past weekend (21-22.11.2015) militants in several sectors attempted to provoke Ukrainian troops into skirmishes, by coming into direct proximity with ATO forces’ advanced positions, or directing precision fire at them from the so-called “gray zone.”

The terrorists, moreover, have continued actively gathering intelligence on the Ukrainian troops’ combat formations and tactical rear with the help of DRG (sabotage and intelligence units) and an “agent network” along the inner “front-line” strip (infiltrating DRGs across the demarcation line, and dispatching either militants disguised as locals or local-resident “agents” to exploit flaws in the regime for transportation and civilian travel across the demarcation line in the ATO area). Attempts by terrorist DRG to lay mines in localities situated in the ATO forces’ tactical rear were observed.

In the past 24 hours, militants fired on ATO forces’ positions along the entire length of the stretch from Mar’inka to the northern outskirts of Horlivka (near Shumy), as well as in the Luhanske – Myronivske – Rozsadky and Zaitseve – Hladosove areas. Militants also fired on Ukrainian troop positions near Chermalyk, Shchastya and Mayorsk, as well as between Shyrokyne and Sakhanka, and in Shyrokyne itself.

Two militant infantry groups, supported by two BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles and one BTR-80 armored personnel carrier, attempted an attack from the Spartak side of Donetsk in the direction of the battlefield security outposts and one of the Ukrainian troops’ strongpoints near Opytne. The enemy tried to approach ATO forces’ positions under heavy covering fire from the small arms and on-board guns of armored combat vehicles. Under dense return fire from the Ukrainian unit, the militants gave up the attempt to advance beyond the attack line (in the neutral zone), and were forced to withdraw to their starting line. Their retreat was covered by intense volleys of mortar fire (at least three 82 mm mortars).

In the area of Pisky, an enemy infantry group, in order to fire on ATO forces’ advanced positions, attempted a stealth advance, moving along the tree line from the direction of Vesele, towards Ukrainian troop positions located west of Stadionna Street. However, the militant group was spotted by ATO forces’ lookouts while on the move; upon attempting to open fire on Ukrainian troop positions, the infantry group was countered by return fire on its flank. After a 20-minute skirmish, the terrorists were forced to withdraw to their starting point near the cemetery in the settlement of Vesele. Covering fire for the withdrawal was provided by a pair of 82-mm mortars and an SPG-9 “Kopye”[Spear] recoilless gun.

In the daytime, a militant unit covertly deployed 82 mm mortars and several AGS-17 grenade launchers (up to three units) in firing positions on the front line near Shyrokyne. As night fell, the enemy opened fire from heavy machine guns, trying to provoke the ATO forces unit into returning fire so as to detect [ATO] firing points and subsequently suppress them with fire from 82-mm mortars and AGS-17s. As a result of the firefight, the ATO forces’ advanced positions were subjected to enemy fire for 30 minutes: from small arms, 82 mm mortars and AGS-17s.

A militant mortar troop unit (120 mm mortars) on board of “Ural” trucks was observed transferring through Shakhtarsk to an area near Donetsk. Also identified in the convoy was a UR-77 “Meteorit” demining machine.

The militant group concentrated near Horlivka remains in a high state of readiness. A few advanced (vanguard) units of reinforced-platoon size have been moved out towards ATO forces’ positions. One such unit has been identified on the north-western outskirts of Horlivka (four armored personnel carriers (three BTR-80s and one BTR-70) and one BRDM-2 armored surveillance vehicle); a second unit in the Zaitseve direction (two MT-LB multipurpose light-armored transporters (one with a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun) and two BMP-2 infantry combat vehicles).

Militants to the west of Krasnyi Oktyabr, in the bend of the river Kalmius, are equipping artillery positions (the location is good for delivering flanking fire on the positions of the ATO forces near Hranitne). Deployed in the neighboring settlement of Pervomaiske is a militant troop company armed with mortars mounted on MT-LBs and BMP-1s (eight BBM armored combat vehicles in all and six mortars, two of which are 120 mm and the remainder 82 mm).

Shyrokyne, April 2015 Photo: Noah Brooks

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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