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)
11.05.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

The past 24 hours marked a new stage in the increased activity of Russian-terrorist forces in the anti-terrorist operation [ATO] zone. The ATO forces continued to come under fire from automatic small arms and heavy grenade launchers along several sections of the demarcation line. Militants also actively fired on the “grey zone.”

At the same time, clashes between various armed gang formations were observed. For example, firefights with the use of small arms and underbarrel grenade launchers were noted in several districts of Donetsk simultaneously.

On the front line, new militant infantry groups aboard transport have appeared along several sections of the demarcation line in Donetsk oblast. Each group numbers about 50 men equipped with small arms, AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers and, occasionally, mortars and ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns.

Around Opytne, Pisky, DAP [Donetsk International Airport], north of Yasynuvata (towards Avdiivka), south of Popasna, and in the vicinity of Holmivskyi, Shchastya and Trokhizbenka, terrorist infantry groups were observed maneuvering on the front edge, with sporadic shooting from automatic small arms and from AGS-17s in several instances.

In sector “A,” enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups (DRGs) have become more active. They carry out reconnaissance tasks and attempt to infiltrate into the rear of the ATO forces.

South of Donetsk (on the section from Hranitne and further south), increased militant activity has also been observed. Terrorist groups periodically open fire at the neutral strip (terrorists in this area give the impression that they are actively trying to stop imaginary Ukrainian troop DRGs from reaching their positions).

Militants continue laying minefields along the front edge and setting up booby-trapped obstacles in several sectors simultaneously: west of Donetsk, and in the vicinity of Starohnativka and Olenivka.

In the coastal regions, new terrorist weapon emplacements and engineering structures have been constructed on the front line (north of Sakhanka, as far as Zaichenko).

A build-up of armored vehicles (totaling 32 tanks and 25 other armored fighting vehicles) has been observed in the militants’ “Lutuhyne training camps.” Some of this heavy armor was transferred from the sector north of Luhansk, and some, from around Popasna.

The reequipping of the Telmanove terrorist group is nearly complete. Two MT-LB light-armored multi-purpose transporter trucks and two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles were transferred to Telmanove from near Amvrosiivka and Starobesheve.

Left: Ukraine. Right: Syria. Middle: “Saving some people here, not sure whom.”
Cartoon by @Sergei_Elkin

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

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Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
11.04.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas continue active armed provocations with the use of small arms, hand-held and automatic grenade launchers; plus, the use of mortars and ZU-21-2 anti-aircraft guns was also recorded.

The provocations were the most active in the stretch between Pisky and Avdiivka; ZU-23-2 were used in the area of DAP [the Donetsk Airport]; while the ATO positions near Shchastya and Trokhizbenka were fired on with small arms and grenade launchers.

In the vicinity of Pryshyb and Sokilnyky, as well as south of Trokhizbenka, militants carried out a rotation of their units. Significant numbers of militant grenade launcher groups (platoons, with 2-3 AGS-17 and AGS-21 in each) appeared in these areas, on board of all-terrain vehicles. Their operation tactic is to make a brief fire assault, then leave of transport for a swift change of position

Near Troitske, north of Avdiivka, and in the area of Hranitne, militants are actively attempting to covertly lay minefields on the nearest approaches to the ATO forces’ strongholds and advanced positions, as well as in the neutral zone. They are mainly using different kinds of tripwires (with anti-personnel land mines, including OZM-72, as well as hand grenades). Controlled and unguided mines are used rarely, only for targeted sabotage (attacks on the ATO mine-sweeping groups, destruction of armored vehicles and transport, and targeted demolition).

Reinforcements are actively arriving for the Telmanove militant tactical group, which is a key unit for the terrorists’ south flank, and had suffered losses in the course of clashes by Starohnativka this summer. The reinforcements include personnel, as well as mortar units and armored vehicles (over the past 24 hours, six ACVs, three BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, and three BTR-80 armored personnel carriers.

Heavy armor that should be withdrawn from the demarcation line is still observed at the front line of the militant troops. A division of 122 mm 2S1 “Gvozdika” self-propelled artillery guns (8 units), and at least three 152-mm 2S3 “Akatsiya” guns are camouflaged at positions near Kruhlyk; in wooded areas northeast of Ivanivka, eight APCs (BTR-70 and BTR-80), five tanks, and several positions with anti-aircraft systems; south of Lutuhyne, 16 units of BMP-1 and MT-LB on a field site, as well as 18-20 AVCs and 8 tanks of different types on camouflaged positions (concentrated in one group).

Inspection of units of the “4th SMRB [separate motorized rifle brigade]” of the “2nd LNR army corps” is planned for 11.20.2015, with participation of Russian supervisors (officers of the 12th Reserve Command of the Russian Southern Military District). At the same time, the rocket artillery division of the “4th SMRB” received orders to relocate from the vicinity of Krasnyi Luch to the area of Brianka, Luhansk oblast – which is inside the zone that should not contain heavy armaments. Reconnaissance units of the “4th SMRB” near Slovyanoserbsk are scouting Ukrainian army positions.

Battalion-level tactical training of units of the “2nd SMBR of the 2nd LNR army corps” will take place in the training area near Uspenka, Lutuhyne district, on 11.05. – 11.07.2015. Thirty-eight tanks of the “tank battalion of the 2nd SMBR of the 2nd LNR army corps” were recorded near the village of Myrne, Lutuhyne district, Luhansk oblast.

By order to the “head of the LNR” Ihor Plotnitsky, disbandment has begun of the so-called “territorial defense” units of the terrorist organization “LNR” [Luhansk People’s Republic].

Information is actively circulating among the “DNR” [Donetsk People’s Republic] militants concerning the [planned] formation of the unit “Kharkiv Corps” in the territory temporary not controlled by Ukraine.

Positions of “Zenith” near Donetsk Airport. Photographs by Vlad Lemm/RadioSvoboda.org

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)
11.03.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Armed provocations on the part of Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas continue to be recorded, and their number has increased in recent days. Provocations recorded were mostly point-blank fire from small arms (including large-caliber machine guns) and AGS-17, 21, sometimes ZU-23-2 or 82-mm mortars (most often as a cover for infiltration/exfiltration of sabotage and reconnaissance groups).

During the past 24 hours, militant armed provocations were recorded in the area of Pavlopil (north of the settlement), Hnutove, and Sakhanka. In the area of Zaichenko, the use of 82-mm mortar rounds was noted.

In the area of Pisky, Avdiivka, Opytne, DAP [Donetsk International Airport], terrorists continue to open fire from small arms and AGS-17 type mounted grenade launchers.

The use of small arms was also recorded south of Shumy, and behind militant lines south of Holmivskyi (Near Lozove).

Between Popasna and Katerynivka, near Novotoshkivske [Luhansk oblast], the activity of militant infantry groups was observed within direct visibility. According to preliminary data, the terrorists are actively laying minefields.

Counterintelligence officers of the Security Service of Ukraine seized caches of four anti-tank mines and 16 detonators, eight F-1 and RGD-5 hand grenades with fuses, and almost a hundred rounds of 23 mm caliber ammunition for an anti-aircraft installation (amongst other weapon seizures) in Luhansk. Photo source: Security Service of Ukraine

At several sections of the front line, militant observer groups are still recorded. In addition, “scouts” have been designated in almost every formation of the Russian-terrorist troops. They regularly cross the demarcation line in the guise of civilians, with the mission to study the ATO forces’ locations.

In several localities under the control of the “DNR” [“Donetsk Peoples’ Republic”], numerous cases of en masse desertion of the “DNR MIA [Ministry of Internal Affairs] staff” have been observed, among the former employees of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, who switched over into the service of the militants. In several cases, [during desertion] they were able to destroy their “service records” in the respective bodies of the “DNR MIA.”

The “DNR Ministry of State Security [MSS]” is carrying out large-scale investigation to identify the persons involved in the leak of lists of members of “Myr Luhanshchyne” NGO headed by Ihor Plotnitsky [Peace for Luhansk Land political party] to the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. At the same time, two “Ukrainian spies” were arrested in Donetsk; these are staff members of the “DNR MSS,” charged with selling the database of the “DNR security agencies” to the Ukrainian special services.

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)
11.02.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past weekend (10.31 – 11.01.2015), Russian-terrorist troops continued armed provocations in the ATO [anti-terrorism operation] zone. Specifically, militant provocations were recorded in the following areas:

• In the vicinity of Pisky – small arms fire (including heavy machine guns) from the direction of the DAP [Donetsk Airport]; multiple firings from a ZU-23-2 in the area of Opytne from the direction of Spartak;

• Militant infantry groups (numbering from 5–7 up to 30 personnel) were seen on the move on multiple occasions throughout the neutral zone north of Avdiivka, northeast of Holmivskiy, and in the area of Starohnativka. In most cases, these groups were surveying the front edge of the ATO forces, but fire was opened in several cases (small arms fire, including, in some instances, under-barrel grenade launchers and AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers). Fire was aimed at the neutral zone as well as in the direction of Ukrainian troop positions;

• Enemy sniper activity was recorded in the vicinity of Mar’inka;

• Near Hranitne, and south towards Chermalyk and Pavlopil, mortar shells detonated in the neutral zone (mainly 82 mm shells, and several 120 mm ones). Several mortar shells detonated at the front edge of the ATO troops.

The terrorists continue radio and land surveillance, including with the use of sabotage and reconnaissance groups. Due to this, the number of SRG staffed by Russian spetsnaz (GRU) is decreasing throughout [the occupied territories], in favor of sabotage groups staffed by local militants with appropriate training.

Militants continue demonstrating a withdrawal of armaments. A “withdrawal of tanks” was presented in the coastal regions – a tank company (8 tanks) was moved from Bezimenne to an area north of Novoazovsk. Interestingly enough, militants had moved most of the tanks and other armored combat vehicles from this area (Bezimenne, Sakhanka) even before the “official” withdrawal. They were moved north, beyond the Telmanove – Novoazovsk motorway, and camouflaged in several areas south of Telmanove. Meanwhile, according to our data, at least 4 terrorist tanks remain in the vicinity of Bezimenne.

The movement of 82 mm and 120 mm mortars by militants remains a problem. According to the IR group’s data, after mass “manipulations” with the withdrawal of armored vehicles and artillery, militants focused their attention on mortar systems, returning them to the initial positions at the front line (taking advantage of the fact that the movement of these systems is hard to control).

A militant armored group (10 ACVs, mainly MT-LB, and BTR-70 and -80) was recorded near Ozeryanivka (southwestern outskirt of Horlivka), plus three more BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles somewhat to the north. Two camouflaged anti-aircraft systems were recorded in the same area. Militants are regrouping – some of the AVCs were moved forward (6 units to the front line), while a stronghold is being set up in the second echelon, to provide cover from the direction of Mykhailivka.

Large amounts of fuel and lubricants are being transported towards Donetsk, through Amvrosiivka and Snizhne, on fuel tanker trucks of different capacity and types (from army MAZ vehicles to MAN trucks with tanker trailers). [The fuel trucks] are moving in convoys with armed escort (usually 2-3 cars with militants, in some cases accompanied by 1-2 BTR-80 armored personnel carriers or BRDM-2 combat and reconnaissance vehicles).

More “LNR/DNR” [“Luhansk and Donetsk Peoples’ Republics”] militants are being hired to take part in the armed conflict in Syria. According to sources in the “DNR army,” militants are being told that they are going to fight on the side of ISIS.

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.