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)
04.04.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During the past 24 hours, shellings of Ukrainian positions by formations of Russian-terrorist troops have been recorded in Artemivsk, Donetsk, and Mariupol (seaside) directions.

The most complicated situation is currently observed in the vicinity of Opytne and Avdiivka. In particular, during the last 24 hours, insurgents constantly fired near Opytne from small arms and AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers, as well as SPG-9 and 82-mm mortars. In the vicinity of Avdiivka, the positions of Ukrainian troops were fired at with 120-mm mortars and small arms. In conducting mortar fire, the enemy attempted to correct it (numerous attempts to move their fire have been recorded).

Terrorists continued their attempts to push Ukrainian troops back from their positions in the Artemivsk direction, especially in the vicinity of ​​ Mayorskiy and Luhanske. In particular, insurgent firing groups undertook at least 4 attempts to inflict fire strikes and force a Ukrainian unit to retreat near Mayorskiy and actively fired twice at Ukrainian positions with machine guns (of different calibers) in the vicinity of Luhanske. In the latter instance, the movement of an insurgent unit has been observed along the demarcation line between opposing sides at the same time. Ukrainian units remained in their positions.

In the seaside direction, insurgent attacks from 82-mm mortars on an outpost of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of ​​Chermalyk have been observed. During the shelling, the enemy monitored the forefront, trying to determine the firing positions of Ukrainian troops. In addition, yesterday (04.03.2015), the radar facilities of airspace control (with air defense equipment) detected repeated attempts by the enemy to conduct reconnaissance using drones in the area.

Near Telmanove, the movement of a convoy with several jeeps and minivans transporting servicemen of Spetsnaz units of the GRU of the General Staff has been observed in the direction of the frontline (about 45 soldiers, well-armed and equipped).

Meanwhile, the pull-up of an unidentified infantry terrorist unit has been observed (according to preliminary data, a reinforced company tactical group of the “DNR” insurgents), with 6 tanks from the vicinity of Starobesheve and Komsomolske towards the forefront near Dokuchajevsk.

In addition to activity at the forefront, terrorists have continued to maintain their military activity deep inside the occupied territories, mainly solving the supply issues of its tactical groups and enhancing their combat capability. Overall, the movement of about 34 vehicles carrying ammunition and fuel delivered from Russia has been observed in the past 24 hours. Most of them (26 vehicles) headed towards the rear of the two “northern” tactical groups of insurgents concentrated on the Horlivka – Yasynuvata – Yenakiieve stretch and near Pervomaisk – Stakhanov. Some supply convoys were accompanied by military outposts (up to a platoon, with 2 or 3 APCs).

An increase of supply volumes has been observed for the needs of the “Horlivka garrison” of Russian-terrorist forces both via the existing “northern” route (by the way of Alchevsk – Debaltseve and through Krasnyi Luch –Debaltseve – Vuhlehirsk), and via the “southern” route (through Snizhne (Amvrosiivka) – Shakhtarsk –Makiivka). The “southern” route is used to transfer predominantly military equipment.

The enemy continues repair work at Ilovaisk and Debaltseve railway stations in order to increase the capacity of both railway junctions after the stations suffered numerous damages as a result, in the first instance, of a successful missile strike by Ukrainian troops, and in the second instance, as a result of intense winter fighting for the “Debaltseve stronghold.” Acute shortage of skilled labor and mobile repair vehicles remain a serious problem for insurgents in this respect (active attempts to engage the experts and equipment from similar fields have been observed). Cranes, tractors, repair equipment are mainly seized from machine-building enterprises and local automobile workshops.

In Horlivka and Snizhne, the repair and maintenance of terrorist artillery systems continue. In Horlivka on the territory of a local machine-building enterprise, 11 ACS 2S1 “Carnation” have been observed; in Snizhne-based repair shops – 4 BM-21 “Grad” MLRS systems, one BM-27 “Hurricane” MLRS, 2 2S3 “Acacia” ACS, and 4 2S1 “Carnation” systems have been observed. More than half of these systems are not combat-ready and are currently being repaired.

Donetsk factory taken over by insurgents for the repair of tanks:

The creation of 4 large military equipment parks have been recorded in Luhansk, which belong to different “LNR” gangs and Armed Forces of the Russian Federation disguised as local insurgents.

Also, the movement of terrorist combat equipment has been observed over the past 24 hours:

– through Luhansk, a convoy of 3 covered trucks and 6 AFVs (2 BMP-2, 4 BTR-80) proceeded to to Stanytsia Luhanska.

– from Perevalsk to Chornukhyne, the movement of 3 MT-LBs and a BMP-2 has been observed.

– through Makiivka, 2 cars with Zu-23-2 and 4 trucks with 120-mm mortars proceeded towards Donetsk.

– through Yenakiieve, a tank convoy of 3 tanks, 2 tariped BM-21 “Grad” MLRS, and 2 MT-LBs proceeded to Yasynuvata.

The Ukrainian National Guard’s new mobile mortar cycle for diversionary missions. SOURCE

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)
04.03.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

During 04.02.2015, the Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas continued shelling and armed provocations in a number of sections along the demarcation line.

The gravest situation was observed in the Seaside [Mariupol] and Donetsk sectors; the terrorists were particularly active along the Bakhmutka motorway. In the vicinity of Shyrokyne settlement, the terrorists shelled the stronghold of Ukrainian forces twice, using 82-mm mortars, and trying to regroup their forces and resources at the forefront under the cover of mortar fire. Also, the Ukrainian positions in the vicinity of Opytne and Avdiivka were subjected to heavy fire, from mortars and automatic side arms. In the mentioned area, groups of insurgents approached the positions of Ukrainian troops three times to fire on them.

We also observed Russian-terrorist military activity in the Artemivsk sector. During the last 24 hours, insurgents in the vicinity of Mayorske, Leninske and Luhanske have been continuously firing on the Ukrainian positions using grenade launchers and small arms; the terrorists also used 82-mm and 120-mm mortars.

Russian-terrorist troops continue using their subversive and reconnaissance groups in several ATO sectors at once, attempting to penetrate the tactical rear of the Ukrainian troops in order to explore, sabotage, or attack the Ukrainian positions. Such cases, among others, occurred in the Severodonetsk and Artemivsk sectors, in the vicinity of Volnovakha (Hranitne settlement to the south of Donetsk), and in the main Donetsk sector.

In addition to the fire strikes at the forefront, the terrorists keep regrouping their forces, improving the combat capability of their units, accumulating technical resources and supplies, and increasing the overall efficiency of their logistics.

Specifically, there is an ongoing intensive effort to resupply the two main combat teams of Russian-terrorist troops, gathered in the northern sector of the ATO zone: in Horlivka and on the Pervomaisk-Stakhanov stretch. We have noticed two terrorist “reinforced battalions” transferring to these sectors in the course of the last 4 days. Usually, these “battalions” consist of “infantry” on board of cars, but we also observed the regular reinforcement of these tactical groups with military equipment, which is being transferred in small portions, and separately from the “infantry.” At the moment, the Horlivka and the Pervomaisk–Stakhanov tactical groups have received 1-2 tank companies (mostly using repaired and recovered used tanks); plus, 26 armored combat vehicles (in addition to the military equipment previously concentrated in these sectors). Some of the armored vehicles are deployed deep behind enemy lines.

In the Seaside [Mariupol] sector, we have observed the insurgents receiving a significant amount of anti-tank weaponry (mainly, 9K111 “Fagot” [Nato reporting name AT-4 Spigot] anti-tank missile systems and SPG-9 “Kopye” mounted anti-tank grenade launchers). Most of this equipment is transferred by vehicles and is grouped into special anti-tank fire groups. At least 4 such groups were spotted in the area between Pavlopil and Shyrokyne.

Military training of Pro-Russian insurgents near Yenakijeve (Photo by AP/Mstyslav Chernov)

Over the last 24 hours, approximately 28 motor vehicles, plus 8 vehicles marked as special machinery and equipment, transferred from the Russian Federation to the occupied territories of Donbas (in addition to the so-called “humanitarian convoy”). Most of these vehicles traveled along the “northern” route: via Alchevsk, Debaltseve, and Yenakijeve. Some supply convoys were also spotted on the Krasnyi Luch – Debaltseve stretch; as well as another 2 motor convoys (6 and 7 tented army trucks) in the vicinity of Shakhtarsk. Moreover, construction machinery was transferred via Stakhanov and Alchevsk, to the forefront insurgent positions in the vicinity of Bakhmutka motorway (namely, 1 grader, 1 bulldozer, and 2 excavators, moving in the direction of insurgent positions, as part of supply convoys, as well as independently).

Eleven train cars carrying ammunition, food provisions, and inventory arrived at the approaches to the Debaltseve railway station, where a temporary unloading point has been set up.

Russian-terrorist troops are fortifying their positions around Krymske and in the Artemivsk sector.

Pro-Russian insurgents participate in a military training exercise near Yenakijeve, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, March 2015. Mstyslav Chernov / AP photo. Source.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB