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)
06.17.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist forces in Donbas continue to actively shell the positions of Ukrainian troops from artillery, 120-mm mortars, and armored vehicles. A decrease in shellings has been observed during daytime and their increase was observed at nighttime. Enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups have become active in several directions.

During the past 24 hours, terrorists have become increasingly active in the entire western sector in the direction of Donetsk. The positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian objects have been shelled in the vicinity of Opytne, Pisky, Krasnohorivka, Mar’inka, Avdiivka, Starohnativka, Novomykhaylivka. Terrorists have mostly used 120-mm mortars and 122-mm artillery systems (the enemy actively uses 2S1 “Carnation” 122-mm self-propelled guns that can quickly change their firing positions; the enemy also uses artillery groups (batteries of 3-4 systems, rarely 5-6 systems). As a rule, the command of Russian-terrorist forces has focused the fire of several artillery groups at a particular sector – typically in the vicinity of Mar’inka, Opytne, and south of the Donetsk on the Starohnativka – Hranitne stretch. An insurgent sniper group was observed once again near Mar’inka. In addition, armed confrontations [between the ATO forces and] insurgent infantry groups have been recorded in the vicinity of Mar’inka; these groups have attempted to attack the ATO forces’ advanced positions.

The enemy carries out attacks mainly from infantry weapons in these directions – AGS-17 and large-caliber machine guns; mobile units with ZU-23-2 and 82-mm mortars are used often [as well]. The following tactic is employed: terrorists infiltrate the “neutral zone” using shrubbery in small groups of 10-15 people (as a rule, a group includes a “Kord” heavy-caliber machine gun, one or two unassembled AGS-17 or a 82 -mm mortar), occupy a firing position, and disguise themselves. After this, “an imitation group” opens brief fire from small arms on the positions of the ATO forces to provoke retaliatory fire and identify the positions of Ukrainian troops. Then, the first group opens fire from the “neutral zone” at the identified targets. To cover the retreat, insurgent groups use mobile 82-mm mortars and Zu-23-2.

In the coastal direction, near Shyrokyne and northwest of it (including areas in the vicinity of Pavlopil and Chermalyk), the enemy has actively used 120-mm mortarts and 122-mm artillery during the past 24 hours (the so-called “Novoazovsk” artillery group operated with six D-30 guns and eight ACS 2S1″ Carnation”). In the daytime, the ATO forces observed and opened fire at several enemy spotters in the “neutral zone.” The movement of insurgent armored vehicles along the position was observed (four tanks and up to 10 ACVs).

In the Artemivsk direction, the reinforcement of insurgent mortar groups with 122-mm artillery that had operated earlier was recorded. In particular, the arrival of an artillery division, two batteries in size (eight 122-mm weapons), was observed in the area near Novhorodske. Near Myronivske and Zolote, insurgents used tank groups (2-3 tanks in size) in the evening to fire at the positions of the ATO forces; their retreat was covered by 120-mm mortars.

In the vicinity of Krymske, Novotoshkivka, Shchastya, and Stanytsia Luhanska, insurgents have fired from small arms and AGS-17. Near Trokhizbenka, behind the river Seversky Donets, an armed confrontation between an ATO outpost and a sabotage and reconnaissance group of terrorists that attempted to infiltrate into the tactical rear of the Ukrainian troops was observed.

In the vicinity of Stanytsia Luhanska, ATO forces have neutralized a sniper group of Russian Spetsnaz (Russians have casualties) with successful counter-sniper actions.

Source: @Polk_Azov

The movement of an insurgent group (up to 50 people) with five ACVs (two BMP-1 and three BMP-2) has been observed from Khartsyzsk towards Ilovaisk.

The enemy continues to regroup artillery in the Kyivskyi district of Donetsk. Two to three weapons get transferred partly to the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk, and partly – in the southern direction. Predominantly, 122-mm D-30 howitzers get transferred, and a transfer of a four-weapon battery of 152-mm 2A65 “MSTA-B” howitzer has been recorded.

The transfer to Donetsk of a mixed group of eight tanks, eight ACS (six ACS 2S1 “Carnation” and two 2S3 “Acacia” self-propelled guns), and 25-26 ACVs has been recorded.

In Luhansk, terrorists continue to accumulate their armored vehicles (in the Kamenobrodskyi district, the area of ​​the former antiaircraft missile battalion – about 25 tanks in varying degrees of readiness and 32-34 AFVs are accumulated). During the last 24 hours, four more tanks and two BTR-80s have arrived at this “base” from the south.

A mass “return” of insurgents (that used to fight in the “armies of the DNR and LNR”), disguised as peaceful civilians, has been observed in Artemivsk and Dzerzhynsk (a territory controlled by ATO forces). Local authorities and law enforcement pay no attention to the “return” of these insurgents.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
06.16.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past 24 hours, Russian-terrorist forces in Donbas have focused shelling the positions of the ATO forces and civilian objects in the Donetsk direction; in general, massive attacks have been recorded on the stretch from Shumy to Hranitne and Starohnativka. Armed confrontations have been observed on several areas of “the front line.”

In the vicinity of Novohryhorivka, Hranitne, Berezove, Bohdanivka, Stepne, Slavne, and Novomykhaylivka, insurgents were firing from 120-mm mortars and 122-mm artillery. Recently redeployed terrorist artillery units are conducting aimed fire near Olenivka and Dokuchajevsk; insurgent spotters of artillery fire have been observed at the forefront in the “neutral zone.”

Insurgents have also used 120-mm mortars near Mar’inka, Krasnohorivka, and Pisky along with 82-mm mortar and AGS-17 [grenade] fire, by several insurgent groups who advanced towards the positions of ATO forces within range of effective fire. In the vicinity of Mar’inka, insurgents used an armored group of two T-72BA tanks and a BMP-2 during the night. This armored group advanced towards the front under cover of mortar attacks and tried to suppress the firing positions of Ukrainian troops with fire. Two terrorist units fired at the positions of the ATO forces between Krasnohorivka and Mar’inka with 120-mm mortars.

Several armored groups of insurgents have also operated in the vicinity of Opytne, Vodyane, and south of Avdiivka. The enemy led adjusted fire from tanks and IFVs on the positions of ATO forces; insurgent armored vehicles have also opened fire several times. After these attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops, insurgents used 120- and 82-mm mortars, AGS-17 grenades, and heavy machine guns to provide cover for the maneuvering and relocation of their armored vehicles. The locations of the permanent deployment of these armored groups of terrorists have been identified in Spartak, Yasynuvata, and the western part of the Kyivskyi district of Donetsk (the village of Vesele and the Stratonavtiv Street). Insurgent artillery units have been observed in the vicinity of Donetsk airport; they attacked with three 2S1 “Carnation” 122-mm self-propelled guns and six D-30 122-mm howitzers).

The enemy continues to actively shell the positions of ATO forces near Avdiivka (both the northern and southern sides of the city). Most of the attacks are carried out by the terrorist artillery units of the so-called “Horlivka garrison” (four batteries of 122-mm artillery and a 6-cannon battery of 2A65, 152-mm “MSTA-B” howitzer – the IR group has previously recorded the transfer of this unit to a district of Donetsk).

Battalion Sich: “These are gifts from Muscovites that arrive at the stadium in Avdiivka.” Source.

In the vicinity of Luhanske, Kamyshevakha, and Zolote, the enemy actively uses tanks and mortars. Fire strikes are carried out at dusk and at nighttime at targets identified in daytime. A low level of training of the insurgents who are part of mortar detachments has been observed.

The enemy carried out shellings of the settlement of Krymske from 122-mm guns (“nomadic” 3-cannon battery of 122-mm “Carnation” self-propelled gun that was previously observed near Trokhizbenka). Toshkivka and Novotoshkivka have been shelled from an MLRS BM-21 “Grad.” Insurgents fired from 120-mm mortars and AGS-17 [grenade guns] at the positions and objects near Shchastya from the vicinity of Vesela Hora.

In the past 24 hours, the terrorists have transferred an integrated unit to the area north of Luhansk (through Haiove, Yuvileine, Dzerzhyske) – six tanks (four T-72B and two T-72BM), three 122-mm 2S1 “Carnation” self-propelled guns, two 152 ACS-mm 2S3 “Acatsiya,” four BTR-80, a BTR- 82A, and four BMP-2. The equipment and weapons have been partly restored at engineering workshops in Perevalsk, and some [of them] came from the Zarya battalion. The convoy also included four Kamaz [cargo trucks] with insurgents.

In the vicinity of Obilne, a unit of servicemen from the Russian Armed Forces, disguised as local “militia” (about 50 people), has been observed. The unit was accompanied by six BTR-80 and two Kamaz Mustang [military utility] trucks. Four “Vintorez” sniper rifles (Russian silent sniper rifle for special forces) have been observed among the weapons used by the Russian servicemen.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
06.15.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Over the past weekend (June 13-14, 2015), the activities of the Russian-terrorist forces in Donbas have intensified. The positions of Ukrainian troops, as well as settlements under the control of Ukrainian authorities, were shelled with heavy weapons; in several sectors, enemy infantry groups have attempted to move towards the positions of Ukrainian troops (all such attempts were stopped by the ATO forces’ fire).

During the last 24 hours, we observed fire strikes from 120-mm mortars and 122-mm artillery on the settlements of Opytne, Vodyane, Pisky, Krasnohorivka, Mar’inka, and Avdiivka (continuous shelling throughout the entire day). To the south of Donetsk (in the vicinity of Novomykhaylivka, Slavne, and Stepne), terrorists have used BM-21 Grad MLRS. In the same area, the enemy used tanks (a group of 5-6 vehicles was spotted near Opytne and to the southwest of the settlement; a tank group was also operating in the vicinity of Novomykhaylivka, after transferring there from Dokuchajevsk through Olenivka). Enemy infantry groups made attempts to pull forward to the positions of Ukrainian troops. Overall, we observed significant reinforcement of Russian-terrorist troops operating in the direction of Mar’inka and south of it, and to the north in the direction of Krasnohorivka.

In the vicinity of Nova Laspa and Starohnativka, the terrorists attempted to attack the advanced positions of the ATO forces using several infantry groups operating under cover of 120-mm mortar fire. After the ATO forces opened dense retaliatory fire, insurgents employed 122-mm artillery. Nevertheless, the ATO forces succeeded in pushing the insurgent infantry groups back to their original lines.

In the Artemivsk sector (near Zolote, Popasna, and Novozvanivka), insurgents fired at the positions of Ukrainian troops using AGS-17 grenade launchers, as well as 120-mm and 82-mm mortars. Fire strikes were carried out on the front echelons of the ATO forces, and in several instances – on [Ukrainian troop] strongholds.

In the vicinity of Luhanske [a settlement in Donetsk Oblast not to be confused with the city of Luhansk], insurgents continue using tanks and mortars in tandem. The enemy is trying to methodically destroy the advanced positions of the ATO forces in order to prevent the consolidation of Ukrainian troops on the positions occupied by the latter.

North of Troitske, insurgents employed BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems (2 units).

Almost all Ukrainian troop positions along the arc north of Donetske, from Novotoshkivka to Trokhizbenka (including Krymske, Sokilnyky, and Prychepylivka) were shelled and attacked during the past 24 hours. In this area, the enemy employed the forces of three mobile fire groups, which included armored vehicles (3-4 tanks and 4-5 armored combat vehicles in each), ZU-23-2 mobile anti-aircraft systems, and mortars mounted on vehicles. Terrorist infantry groups attempted to approach the advanced positions of the ATO forces, supported by AGS-17 grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. The terrorists also used several BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers (BTR-70 and BTR-80) to give direct support to their infantry groups northeast of the Bakhmut motorway.

During the past 24 hours in the Seaside [Mariupol] sector, insurgents shelled the objects and positions of ATO forces in the vicinity of Shyrokyne, as well as positions located north and northwest of that settlement (including near Pavlopil and Chermalyk). The terrorists mainly used small arms and AGS-17; however, by nightfall, the insurgents deployed two batteries of 2S1 122-mm self-propelled artillery guns and up to four Grad-P 9P132 (“Partisan”) [Grad-P Light portable rocket system] units towards Bezymenne, and used them to fire directly on ATO forces’ positions near Shyrokyne, as well as on the road leading to that settlement from the northwest.

Movements of insurgent vehicles and personnel:

• An insurgent unit (450-500 personnel, in several groups) has been transferred to the vicinity of Horlivka, through Yasynuvata and Yenakijeve. Artillery is being transferred as well (six 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled guns and five D-30 howitzers spotted over the last 24 hours);

• Two Tor-M1 anti-aircraft units transferred through Shakhtarsk. The convoy was escorted by two BTR-80 armored personnel carriers and 3 Kamaz trucks;

• Three Strela-10M self-propelled artillery systems were spotted on the stretch between Sadove and Khartsyzk;

• A local insurgent unit (at least 550 personnel in total) is being transferred from Alchevsk to Debaltseve in small groups (5-6 trucks in each);

• A convoy (four BTR-80 armored personnel carriers and four 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery guns) moved through Alchevsk in the direction of the Isakivske reservoir;

• South of Luhansk, we spotted 20 trucks with pontoon equipment (with the tactical numbers wiped on all of them).

Cartoon by Charlie Hebdo

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Dmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
06.12.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas have moved on from using 122-mm and 152-mm artillery, MLRS, and armored vehicles in isolated instances of shelling (which were most recently observed) to their wide-spread use. Moreover, the transfer of heavy weapons to the “frontline” is carried out by insurgents without any secrecy or observance of disguise.

The number of specialists from the Russian Armed Forces has increased in the gang artillery groups. Meanwhile, artillery strikes–on the second echelon of ATO forces–by Russian-terrorist troops have been observed in a number of directions (earlier, the strikes were inflicted on the front echelon).

According to  IR data, increased activity of Russian-terrorist formations is expected from June 12 through to June 14, 2015 in the direction of Horlivka – Artemivsk, Donetsk – Kurakhove (attempts to seize a number of facilities) and to the north of Luhansk (an attempt to “even out” the demarcation line between the parties).

In the seaside direction, terrorists have actively shelled the positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Chermalyk and Shyrokyne during the past 24 hours. Shellings were predominantly made from 122-mm artillery and 120-mm mortars (82-mm mortars have been occasionally used on the frontmost edge). In addition, several artillery strikes have been inflicted on targets near the settlements of Berdyansk and Lebedynske.

In the Donetsk direction, Russian-terrorist troops have become more active; they have used artillery, tanks, and AFVs. In the vicinity of Pisky, Opytne, and Vodyane, terrorists have inflicted powerful artillery strikes from 122-mm artillery several times in the last 24 hours; they have also used tanks IFVs, and APCs at the forefront. About a dozen armored vehicles (including four tanks) shelled the positions of Ukrainian troops. During artillery strikes, insurgents have advanced infantry groups to the front edge (each group – up to a reinforced platoon in size); the groups tried to fire grenade launchers and small arms from the “neutral zone.”

Novomykhaylivka, Novoselivka-2 (south of Mar’inka) have been shelled with mortars and 152-mm artillery. Near ​​Mar’inka, two terrorist tanks operated as a “swinging pendulum” (one [tank] shoots while another is in hiding, after which they switch their positions). Insurgents have also actively used 152-mm and 122-mm artillery in the area (three firing units with a total of 14 weapons fired from the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk).

In the Artemivsk direction, an increase in activity of Russian-terrorist forces has also been observed. Tanks and mortars worked together in the vicinity of Luhanske (three tanks shelled the positions of ATO forces, by entering the positions and changing them under cover of mortar fire). Near Zolote and Popasna, enemy groups keep trying to approach the positions of ATO forces using the greenery at a distance of effective fire and open small arms fire, including “Kord” machine guns and sniper rifles. The maneuvers of these groups are covered by fire from AGS-17 and 82-mm mortars.

In the vicinity of Novhorodske, Shumy, Leninske, and Artemove the enemy fired mainly from small arms. A stronghold of the ATO forces south of Troitske has been fired at from 120-mm mortars.

Terrorists attacked [several] objects near Novotoshkivka with MLRS BM-21 “Grad” (three MLRS systems). In the Luhansk direction, fire strikes from AGS-17 have been observed near ​​Shchastya from the direction of Vesela Hora. Insurgents used 82-mm mortars and Zu-23-2 in the vicinity of Krymske and Sokolniki.

ATO soldiers today videotaped the shelling of Avdiivka with weapons banned by the Minsk Agreement. Russian occupants continue relentlessly shelling Ukrainian villages and towns with mortars and artillery. Source. See  Video.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB