Kyiv, February 27, 2015<\/i><\/b>. Ukrainian Armed Forces withdraw their 100-mm MT-12 \u201cRapira\u201d anti-tank guns on the distance of at least 25 km from the contact line in accordance with Minsk agreements. This process takes place in spite of the sporadic fire from the militants groups. \u201cThe withdrawal is conducted under careful supervision of OSCE monitors,\u201d told Colonel Andriy Lysenko, ATO spokesperson, during the press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Col. Lysenko quoted President Petro Poroshenko who emphasized that Ukrainian servicemen are ready to bring their weapons back to the initial positions if the enemy decides to attack.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Russia-backed militants only partially withdraw their weapons on the distance that could be covered within 30 minutes. According to Michael Bociurkiw, OSCE SMM spokesman, international observers still did not receive detailed information of military inventories, withdrawal routes and points of the weapons\u2019 location afterwards, which makes it impossible to monitor the withdrawal of militants\u2019 equipment.<\/p>\n
The number of militant attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk regions has decreased. At the same time, Russia-backed insurgents regroup their forces and conduct reconnaissance activities along the whole contact line. The enemy continues to amass its forces and military equipment in Stakhanov, Luhansk and Krasny Luch. \u201cOur intelligence report covert accumulation of manpower and military equipment in the areas of Popasna and Artemivsk of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions respectively. There is a persisting threat of offensive in the direction towards Stanytsia Luhanska, Shchastia, Lysychansk and Mariupol,\u201d Col. Lysenko said.<\/p>\n
Moreover, insurgents strengthen their lines of defense, conduct reconnaissance missions and amass more forces under the guise of withdrawal of heavy weapons. \u201cMilitants\u2019 forces have been redeployed from Debaltseve to the area of Pisky, Maryinka and Shyroke. Around 100 units of military equipment moved from Bryanka toward Devaltseve as well. Furthermore, \u201cGrad\u201d multiple rocket launchers and up to 50 units of other military equipment moved from Donetsk toward the Mariupol area,\u201d Col. Lysenko noted.<\/p>\n
Russia continues to supply its proxies; hence it delivered military equipment, ammunition and fuel to the Ilovaysk railway station currently under the militant control.<\/p>\n
Militants fired at the Ukrainian positions from the artillery, mortars and tanks as well as stormed those in the area of Opytne, Vodyane and Avdiivka. Ukrainian soldiers repelled all attacks.<\/p>\n
3 Ukrainian servicemen were killed and 7 got wounded in the last 24 hours.<\/p>\n