Russia redeployed air defense artillery division to Donbas – Military Intelligence 

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Russia continues to supply the self-proclaimed republics not only with weapons, but also with whole units consisting of Russian military personnel. This time the air defense artillery division, which may pose risk to civil aviation, was redeployed from the Primorsky Territory to Donbas.

Kyiv, August 15, 2016. The Russian leaders do not abandon their plans to continue the military aggression against Ukraine and gain full control over its territory. The Russian Federation Armed forces leadership is trying to intensify combat operations and shelling in temporarily occupied Donbas and is reinforcing the 1st and 2nd army corps (AC). This was informed by Vadym Skibitskiy, representative of the Main Intelligence Department of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry at a briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

Russia redeployed the new air defense artillery division to Donbas

“For this purpose the air defense artillery division of the 60th separate motorized rifle brigade was redeployed from the Russian Far East to the territory of Ukraine. The air defense artillery division of this brigade underwent the additional training near Novocherkask, Rostov region. Besides, its personnel were provided with the fake documents and corresponding legends for its hidden use in Ukraine,” informed Mr. Skibitskiy.

Military intelligence revealed that the air defense artillery division of the 60th separate motorized rifle brigade consists of 168 people, has 21 pieces of military equipment and 30 vehicles. The division personnel consists solely of officers and soldiers under contract, including those transferred from other brigades of the 5th Army.

“The threat of air terrorism”

According to Vadym Skibitskiy such redeployment of the air defense artillery division poses an “increased threat of air terrorism” to all aircraft, including civilian planes, as in the case of the MH-17 tragedy. “The division is equipped with powerful advanced air defense systems “Tor-M2U” that are as effective as AD batteries “Buk,” from which the Russian military downed Malaysian Boeing 777,” explained the military intelligence representative.

A full list of the military personnel of the air defense artillery division of the 60th separate motorized rifle brigade of the RF Armed Forces with their positions, names and personal data can be viewed here.