Andriy Lysenko: Ukrainian Armed Forces do not incur any casualties in the last 24 hours

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Kyiv, April 2, 2015. The Ukrainian Armed Forces did not suffer any casualties yesterday, said Colonel Andriy Lysenko, ATO spokesperson, at a briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. However, militant-inspired provocations continue along the entire contact line, stretching from the Sea of Azov to Stanytsia Luhanska. “The fiercest fighting has occurred around Avdiivka yesterday. Russian proxies used tanks and the artillery. Also, the intelligence reports that the “DPR” covertly relocates heavy weapons closer to the contact line in the areas of Maryinka, Krasnohorivka and the Donetsk airport. Ukrainian troops engaged in combat with militants in the vicinity of Zolote yesterday as well. Our servicemen checked the enemy’s advance,” Col. Lysenko added.

Col. Lysenko reported that the militants were training on six firing ranges on the occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions throughout last March. Furthermore, 1,500 Russian regulars are currently training their combat skills in urban areas in the Rostov region, Russia.

The ATO spokesperson noted that T-64 tanks with the Ukrainian Armed Forces insignia were spotted on the move near Mayorsk, Donetsk region, on March 31. Also textile factories on the militant-held territories received orders to produce chevrons of the Ukrainian military. “These facts raise suspicions that militants are gpreparing provocations against the peaceful civilians of Donbas, undermining the reputation of the Ukrainian Army and of the entire process of finding a peaceful solution to the conflict,” Col. Lysenko emphasized.

Tensions rise between different insurgent groups based in Krasny Luch, Luhansk region. A group of unidentified militants attacked Russian troops, killing and wounding some of them. “These Russian soldiers previously played a role of the barrier squads during the battle for Debaltseve. They are now assigned with a task to eliminate all those militant groups disobedient to the leaders of the “DPR” and “LPR”,” Col. Lysenko added.

Ukrainian policemen from Lviv who serve their duty in Kramatorsk organized delivered food to children at the local orphanage.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian counter-intelligence detained a militant in Odesa who was gathering intelligence on the Ukrainian forces to prepare the grounds for the arrival of more Russian subversives. Also, the operatives uncovered a militant group suspect of committing 10 terrorist acts in the city. They are now investigated on their involvement in the bombings of stores, business centers and offices of pro-Ukrainian civic organizations and political parties.

Similarly, Ukraine’s Secret Service detained a group of former Communist activists who planned to conduct a number of terrorist acts in Dnipropetrovsk. According to Col. Lysenko, the Communist Party of Russia was going to provide funds for these activities in order to destabilize the region.