Kyiv, August 24, 2014. The Russian military, based on the territory of the Russian Federation, did not cease firing upon the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reported Colonel Andrei Lysenko, a spokesperson of the Information and Analytical Center of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (IAC NSDC) during a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Thus, yesterday, the Ukrainian border guards were fired upon with mortars between 11:10 and 11:20. At 11:10 the fire from three Grad systems originating in the Russian village of Maksimov destroyed the Ukrainian checkpoint near Novoazovsk. At 12:30 the Ukrainian settlement of Amvrosiivka came under attack from Grad systems, which originated in the vicinity of the village Shramko in Russia, Ulianovske in Ukraine.
In addition, the Russian Armed Forces continued firing at Ukrainian territory after the nightfall. Thus, from 3:10 am to 04:00 am Russian artillery was methodically shelling the territory of the checkpoint “Novoazovsk” of Donetsk border guards; at 04:20 am the Ukrainian border guards were fired upon by the tanks from the vicinity of the village Shramko in Russia, Ulianivsk in Ukraine. At 5:25 am the Russian military fired 10 mortar rounds at Ukrainian border guards near Amvrosiivka.
The representative of the NSDC reported that the ATO forces continue on their successful offensive against the terrorists near the settlements of Novosvetlovka, Khryashchevate, Malomykolaivka, Illiria. However, the situation near the village of Stanitsa Luhanska remains tense. The terrorists have gained manpower and equipment and continue fighting to regain the lost ground. Over the past day Ukrainian army lost five servicemen another eight got wounded.
Yesterday morning the Ukrainian border guards together with the National Guard forces engaged the Russian mercenaries who were coming from the Russian Federation in two APCs, two trucks and a passenger vehicle. The incident took place near the village of Lysia not far from Amvrosiivka, Donetsk region, about six kilometers from the border line. The terrorists’ convoy was coming from the checkpoint Uspenka. After the battle with Ukrainian military the terrorists lost two trucks and had to flee back to the Russian territory.
Ukrainian military near the settlement of Biloyarovka, Donetsk region, initiated an artillery strike against the two armored convoys of Russian mercenaries, who moved from the Russian Federation in the unmarked vehicles toward Saur Mohyla. The Ukrainian Armed Forces managed to scatter the terrorist convoys and partially destroy them.
Russia, in violation of the 2011 OSCE Vienna Document “On Confidence and Security Building Measures “, does not cease to increase military forces in Rostov region. Thus, yesterday at a distance of 1.5 km from the Ukrainian-Russian border opposite the Border checkpoint “Amvrosiivka” the Russian military armored vehicles, guns and Grad systems have been spotted. Another 40 Grad systems, 20 military trucks and a few tanks have been spotted near the village Vasilyevo-Hanzhonovka, Rostov region, opposite the border checkpoint “Novoazovsk”.
Commenting on the situation in the villages, which are still within the conflict zone, Colonel Lysenko noted that the terrorists continued to destroy the infrastructure in Stakhanov, Alchevsk Perevalsk, Zorinsk, Maloivanovka and Horodyshche. The situation remains very tense in Gorlivka: there is a significant increase in the number of Russian mercenaries, particularly the so-called “Kadyrov’s men.”
In Luhansk the terrorists destroyed almost the entire infrastructure and continue shelling the residential areas, reported the NSDC speaker. For the past day 68 civilians got injured. There is no electricity or water supply in the city, neither cell phone nor landline communication is available. The State Treasury Service of Ukraine has resumed its work in 13 cities and districts of the Luhansk region. Thus, on 26-27 August these areas will resume payment of salaries to public sector employees; cover the expenses for medical supplies and food, as well as the utilities for the public organizations.