Kyiv, August 5, 2014 – President Petro Poroshenko stated that within the last two months the zone of the antiterrorist operation decreased by three-fourths at a meeting with the heads of security and defense institutions. “The most important result is that millions of people have the opportunity to return to their normal lives. All operations to free the occupied territories aim to decrease casualties as much as possible, both among the civilians and servicemen,” NSDC information center spokesman Andriy Lysenko cited Petro Poroshenko’s words during a briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
During the meeting, the President proposed to perfect the mobilization mechanism in order for military commissars to be directly motivated to work with the conscription soldiers. One of the developing directions is sending military commissars with reinforcements from their region to the military units. “Another issue that was discussed was the issue of adaptation and employment for wounded servicemen who are unable to return to military units,” added the NSDC spokesman.
Throughout August 5, 2014, the pyrotechnic departments of the National Service for Emergency States of Ukraine have detected and confiscated 21 units of ammunition, of which there were 2 artillery units, 12 mines for mine-launchers, 7 combat grenades and mines, and 18 other incendiary items. 4 administrative buildings have been searched for incendiary items. 28,8 hectares of territories and 0,3 hectares of water reservoirs have been checked. Overall, since starting their work on July 6, 2014, the pyrotechnic departments of the NSES of Ukraine in Slovyansk and on adjacent territories detected and extracted 9358 ammunition units, of which there were 499 artillery units, 604 mines for mine-launching mechanisms, 392 combat grenades and mines, 49 reactive artillery ammunition units, 7814 other incendiary items. 584 administrative buildings, 474,8 hectares of territory and 31,9 hectares of water reservoirs have been searched.
The terrorists are intentionally ruining civic and industrial objects in regions of Luhansk Zhovtneviy, Leninskiy, Kamyanobridskiy, Artemivskiy. As a result of mine fire, the railway bridge between the villages of Nyzhnieteple and Ohorodne has been damaged. This resulted in suspension of coal supplies to the Luhansk oblast thermal power plant in the city of Shchastya, which produces electricity for 70% of the oblast’s localities. “At the moment the bridge is not being renovated due to constant terrorist fire. 62 localities of the oblast are without electricity supplies, of which 46 have no electricity whatsoever,” noted Andriy Lysenko.
The mercenaries are opening fire from portable mine-launchers. “These actions also aim to evoke panic among the locals, as well as discredit the Ukrainian servicemen. Correspondents of Russian and pro-Russian channels, LifeNews, Russia-24 and Luhansk-24, arrive at the fire scenes almost immediately. Which is why we may conclude that the fire area is selected beforehand and accorded with the Russian side. Russian TV channels publicize the footage, presenting it as so-called evidence of Ukrainian fire,” stated Colonel Lysenko.
In the cities occupied by terrorists, in particular, Luhansk, Rovenky, Sverdlovsk, Krasniy Luch, Antratsit and Perevalsk, problems with food shortage are becoming more apparent. Retail chain stores have suspended their work, and private suppliers have no possibility of getting to the localities. All banks have stopped working, which caused a shortage of cash. There are also problems with fuel and medicine.
Today, the head of the security service of the so-called “PRD” demanded from the head of the civil security police head of Ukraine at the Donetsk railway that he, together with his subordinates, make an oath of allegiance to the so-called “PRD.” “In case of non-compliance, the bandits threatened violence. He emphasized that in case they do not make the pledge, the employees and the building of the headquarters would be captured by PRD forces. In order not to put their people into jeopardy, the commandment of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs on Donetsk railway made the decision to evacuate their people and leave the building,” stated Andriy Lysenko.
The servicemen of the pontoon-bridge troop of the State Special Transportation Service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure built two temporary bridges in the ATO zone to replace the ones that were completely destroyed by the terrorists. Both pontoon bridges of 65 and 70 meters have been set up near Slovyansk – over the river of Siverskiy Donets and Kazenniy Torets. Combat engineers of the State Special Transportation Service check the territory for incendiary items before constructing the pontoons over the rivers. “In order to carry out the mission, almost 100 pontoon sections and over 10 additional equipment units were transported by special platforms from Dnipropetrovsk to Slovyansk via railway. The bridge is strong, it is able to withstand weights of dozens of tons. It is will serve for both civilian equipment and military columns, which will no longer have to take mile-long detours,” added colonel Lysenko.
Another four bridges, which connect densely populated regions of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, were restored by Ukrainian Armed Forces engineers. Their reliability is being checked by military equipment before opening. “Overall, the Russian saboteurs have damaged 17 bridges in Donbas since the start of the ATO. Many bridges remain mined,” noted the NSDC spokesman.
Today, Switzerland increased sanctions against Russia. According to them, it is prohibited to engage in financial activities with 18 Russian companies. The sanctions list also included 26 people, politicians and businessmen, which are banned from entering the country, and whose bank accounts will also be frozen. The sanctions are enacted today, on August 5, at 6 p.m. Bundestag member from the Christian-Democratic Union Michael Futsch called these sanctions a gesture of solidarity with the EU and unity within the general sanctions list against Russia. “It should be noted that 75% of finances from the export of Russian oil go through Swiss banks, Geneva in particular. According to the National Bank of Switzerland, the bank accounts contain approximately 14 billion Swiss franks,” stated Andriy Lysenko during the briefing.
