Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk: Militants deploy firing platoon on outskirts of Donetsk

Militants are deploying heavy armor, using all types of weapons – mortar launchers, cannons and howitzers. One civilian died in militant attack and another was injured. Meanwhile, Russia is supplying militants with fuel and ammunition.

Kyiv, July 14, 2016. Ukrainian intelligence informed that a firing platoon has been deployed by militants on outskirts of Donetsk, which, among others, includes three 152-mm howitzers Msta-B. Three Grad multiple rocket launcher systems and four trucks with ammunition arrived at Makiivka, informed the spokesman of the Presidential Administration on ATO related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at the press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “Considering the focused attempts to escalate the conflict, the adversary continues congesting the manpower and heavy armor at the main line of defense,” said the spokesman.

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In total, 30 militant attacks took place in the Donetsk sector yesterday, 18 involved the use of heavy armor. Militants are systematically shelling Ukrainian positions using heavy armor – mortar launchers and cannons – both during the day and at night.  In total, 30 militant attacks took place in the Donetsk sector. Militants are systematically shelling Ukrainian positions using heavy armor, mortar launchers and cannons, both during the day and at night in Avdiivka. Militants conducted several artillery attacks in Opytne-Pisky frontline area. “According to the preliminary information, the second incident involved use of D-30 howitzers,” added Col. Motuzyanyk. Militants used mortar launchers along the entire demarcation line. The most intense attacks took place in Zaitseve and Avdiivka industrial area. “Hostile snipers opened fire twice in Pivdenne village (formerly Leninske) of Toretsk town council. Militants also violated the ceasefire in other frontline areas, but no heavy armor was used,” informed the spokesman.

Militants violated the ceasefire in two spots in the Luhansk sector, Stanytsia Luhanska and Novotoshkivske at Bakhmut road. An intense firefight took place in Stanytsia Luhanska between ATO troops and militants laying in ambush on the high bank of the Siverskyi Donets River. Three militant attacks took place in Novotoshkivske between 11 p.m. and the midnight, one of these involved use of mortar launchers. In total, five militant attacks took place in the Luhansk sector yesterday.

The most intense combat activity in the Mariupol sector took place in the north – Krasnohorivka-Mariinka frontline area and south – Shyrokyne and the adjacent areas. “The adversary traditionally uses hardly any heavy armor during the day. However, our positions are repeatedly shelled from mortar launchers and 152-mm cannons after sunset. Moreover, hostile snipers are active in both above stated areas,” informed Col. Motuzyanyk. A school came under militant fire in Krasnohorivka. The schoolchildren have been attending another school located in safer area for two years.

Moreover, militants organized a series of mortar attacks in the central frontline area in the vicinity of Starohnativka from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. The armistice held in this area the rest of the day. “Sporadic violations of the ceasefire take place in other areas. On the opposite, the armistice fully held near Dokuchaevsk yesterday,” added the spokesman. In total, 37 militant attacks took place in the Mariupol sector yesterday, 14 of them involved use of heavy armor.

Militants organized several flights of unmanned aerial vehicles in the past 24 hours. It has been identified that one drone was launched from Russian territory, the town of Taganrog.

One Ukrainian serviceman died in combat yesterday and four were wounded. Moreover, two troops more were wounded as a result of tripping an explosive device. “Civilians were injured in hostile fire yesterday as well. For instance, a 75-years-old man died in Avdiivka and another man was wounded in Mariinka,” informed Col. Motuzyanyk. Speaking of militant losses, six militants died yesterday and nine were wounded. The self-proclaimed 5th brigade (Makiivka), 7th brigade (Debaltseve), 11th regiment (Makiivka) and 100th brigade (Donetsk) incurred losses.

According to the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, another batch of military supplies for militants came from Russia. “Two T-72 tanks, two BPM-2, two Grad MRLS, five fuel tanks with combustible and lubrication materials arrived at Ilovaisk. Seven fuel tanks with combustible and lubrication materials and three railroad cars with ammunition came to Khartsyzsk,” said Col. Motuzyanyk.