Ukrainian troops start second stage of weaponry withdrawal from the contact line. OSCE registers militants violating withdrawal conditions – Oleksandr Motuzyanyk  

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Kyiv, October 20, 2015. Implementation of the second stage of weaponry withdrawal has started in Donetsk region, namely in the Artemivsk sector today. The weaponry to be withdrawn includes tanks, artillery of caliber below 100 mm and mortars of caliber below 120 mm, said spokesman of Administration of the President of Ukraine on ATO-related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. At the same time, he noted that the OSCE mission released a report with proof that militants are violating the weaponry withdrawal conditions. “Monitors’ unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) registered a large amassment of military equipment and weapons in the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” (DPR)-controlled area in the Mariupol sector. These are two tanks in Bezymenne area, 26 tanks and one Strela-10M anti-aircraft mount near Sontseve, three tanks near Michuryne as well as Gvozdyka self-propelled artillery system near Petrivske and Oktyabr. Militants also used electronic jamming systems to try to jam the mission’s UAV above Zaichenko,” said Colonel Motuzyanyk. According to him the Russian Federation “does not cease military and technical supplies to support its proxy regimes in the occupied territories. Militants are being trained, their positions keep being fortified, the adversary is conducting intelligence activities including radio-electronic intelligence”.

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Not a single attack upon Ukrainian positions was registered in the ATO zone over the last day. No militant UAVs were spotted. Ukrainian servicemen came into contact with an explosive device in Novotroyitske, Donetsk region yesterday. One serviceman was killed and one was wounded.  “Ukrainian servicemen are teaching residents of the frontline areas about safety and proper handling of explosive devices,” added an ATO spokesman. State Emergency Service personnel explored almost eight hectares of land in Donetsk and Luhansk regions over the last day, they neutralized 12 explosive devices.

Colonel Motuzyanyk also reported detention of a Ukrainian citizen who took part in activities of a militant group at Hnutove check-point. It was discovered that the detained, nicknamed Tykhyy, is a member of the Vostok militant group. Ukraine’s Security Service also blocked a “DPR” militant informer network in Donetsk region. “The detained perpetrators were collecting information on deployment places and movement routes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and passing it over to militants for them to direct artillery shelling upon Ukrainian positions,” explained Colonel Motuzyanyk.

According to the ATO spokesman, 19 trucks carrying humanitarian aid from the International Committee of the Red Cross crossed via Novotroyitske control point. Thirteen more vehicles crossed via Zaitseve control point. The trucks were carrying 15 tons of food.