Kyiv, June 1, 2014 – The terrorists do realize that the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) has transitioned to its dynamic and serious actions, therefore they seek ATO forces to grant them an opportunity of escaping the battlefield. “Yesterday, after investigation conducted by operative groups, 4 people were led out of the ATO zone near the city of Slovyansk and are being questioned regarding strategic objects, base locations and terrorist plans in a short-term perspective,” reported ATO spokesman Olexiy Dmytrashkovsky during a briefing over phone at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
According to the spokesman, as of today, it is mandatory to prevent terrorist groups from leaving the ATO zone. “It is not a problem to create an escape corridor for insurgents, however each case should be investigated individually, so that the terrorists, disguised as the self-defence, ready to surrender, do not spread around the region,” warned Dmytrashkovskiy.
According to the ATO spokesman, during 10-day ceasefire initiated by the Ukrainian side, 122 attacks were made on the defense check points and columns of Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. “Only yesterday, 1 Ukrainian soldier was killed and 17 were wounded,” reported Olexiy Dmytrashkovskiy.
Today the ATO forces started an artillery strafing of terrorist locations and weapons stocks, and have already conducted one air attack. The operation continues, its details are not disclosed to guarantee safety to Ukrainian soldiers.
