Civil war in Ukraine: News & discussion

[Hindustani78]

http://www.unian.info/war/1735557-a...s-in-donbas-on-friday-one-soldier-killed.html
The Headquarters of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in Donbas has reported about 10 attacks on Ukrainian positions on Friday, one Ukrainian soldier was killed.

In particular, the villages of Pavlopil, Talakivka and Hnutove in the Mariupol sector came under fire from grenade launchers and small arms. The village of Taramchuk was attacked by an infantry fighting vehicle. Sniper fire was opened on the village of Novotroyitske.


The Russian hybrid military forces used grenade launchers and small arms to shell the town of Avdiyivka and the village of Novoselivka Druha in the Donetsk sector.


In the Luhansk sector, they also fired grenade launchers and small arms on the villages of Syze and Stanytsia Luhanska.

"In total, there were 10 barrages. One soldier was killed in action," the ATO HQ said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/397818.html

Ukraine together with Canada and Denmark have carried out the inspection on the territory of Rostov region of Russia which has exposed Russia's violations of the Vienna Document (2011) on Confidence and Security-Building Measures and Disarmament in Europe, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported.

"The multinational inspection team has confirmed the non-compliance by the Russian Federation with the clauses of the Vienna Document in terms of the provision of information on military forces to all OSCE participating states," Head of the Public Relations Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Colonel Bohdan Senyk told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.

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16:40
DPR reports 12 deaths of militiamen in Jan

15:57
DPR reports death of 2 militiamen in attacks over past week

 

[Hindustani78]

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/397955.html
21.01.2017
One soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was killed in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in the east of the country over past 24 hours, spokesman for the Defense Ministry for ATO matters Oleksandr Motuzianyk has said.

"Last day one Ukrainian soldier was killed, no wounded," he said at a briefing in Kyiv.

Earlier ATO headquartered reported that one serviceman was killed.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.unian.info/war/1736201-a...1-times-jan-21-mostly-in-mariupol-sector.html
Combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in eastern Ukraine 21 times from 00:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, January 21, according to the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers fired mortars on the village of Vodiane, as well as rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the villages of Lebedynske, Novohryhorivka, Vodiane, Talakivka and Shyrokyne, the ATO HQ said in an evening update.


In the Donetsk sector, the militants used grenade launchers and small arms in the villages of Zaitseve and Novhorodske.

In the Luhansk sector, the enemy shelled mortars on the village of Troyitske, as well as rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the villages of Novo-Oleksandrivka and Novozvanivka.
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http://www.unian.info/war/1736396-ukraine-reports-attacks-in-all-sectors-in-donbas-in-past-day.html
Shelling of Ukrainian positions in Donbas was reported in all sectors in the past day, with the total number of attacks on Ukrainian troops reaching 33 instances, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters.

In particular, the village of Vodiane in the Mariupol sector came under mortar fire, the ATO HQ said. Further, Russia's hybrid military force used grenade launchers and small arms to fire on the villages of Pavlopil, Lebedynske, Hranitne, Novohryhorivka, Vodiane, Talakivka, and Shyrokyne. Lebedynske was also under sniper fire.


Grenade launchers and small arms were also used by the Russian proxies to attack the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Zaitseve and Novhorodske in the Donetsk sector.

The village of Troyitske in the Luhansk sector came under mortar fire, while grenade launchers and small arms were used to shell the villages of Novo-Oleksandrivka, Valuyske, and Novozvanivka.

A total of 33 attacks on the Ukrainian army were registered in the period under review. The ATO HQ reported that there had been no casualties in the past day.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/397960.html
A meeting of non-affiliated deputy Nadia Savchenko with the leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk Republics (DPR and LPR), Alexander Zakharchenko and Igor Plotnitsky, was organized by Head of the captive liberation center from the Ukrainian side Volodymyr Ruban.

Ruban gave the information in an interview with Hromadske TV.

"When an occasion recurred I organized the meeting in Minsk [between Savchenko, Zakharchenko and Plotnitsky]," he said, adding that the meeting was not a secret.

Earlier Savchenko confirmed that on December 7, 2016 she was in Minsk where she met with Zakharchenko and Plotnitsky. She said she acted with the agreement of Ukraine's Security Service and her main goal was to resolve the prisoner exchange issue. She said she sees these talks as the need to broaden 'the Minsk format'.

On December 15, 2016, a group of MPs from various factions of the Verkhovna Rada, who are members of the national security and defense parliamentary committee drew up a draft resolution on expulsion of Savchenko from the committee.

The regulations parliamentary committee on January 18, 2017 recommended making a decision on the draft resolution on expulsion of Savchenko from the national security and defense committee via voting in the session hall.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/397965.html

Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Hrytsak has said that SBU has prevented an assassination attempt on a Ukrainian deputy and Russian intelligence agencies were involved in it.

"Yesterday in Kyiv an assassination attempt on of a deputy was prevented," Hrytsak said at a briefing in Kyiv on Saturday.

He said that Russian intelligence agencies were involved in it.

Hrytsak also said that two persons were detained. They are suspected of committing this crime. They were reporting to their curator in Russia.

He said that painstaking preparations for committing the crime were made.

As for the mode how to commit the assassination attempt, he said that it would have been committed using a self-made explosive device: two options – to install it under a car or to explode it when the car is running.

The delinquents were working out an escape to Russia after committing the crime, Hrytsak said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.unian.info/war/1736717-ato-hq-update-four-wounded-in-action-24-attacks-on-sunday.html
Russia-controlled militants of illegal armed formations in Donbas violated the ceasefire 24 times from 00:00 to 18:00 local time on Sunday, January 22, resulting in four Ukrainian soldiers wounded in action, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"The occupiers used grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and small arms to fire on the villages of Lebedynske, Chermalyk, Shyrokyne, Vodiane, and the town of Maryinka in the Mariupol sector. Further, Maryinka, and the village of Novotroyitske and the town of Krasnohorivka were under sniper fire," the ATO HQ wrote on Facebook on Sunday evening.

The villages of Novo-Oleksandrivka and Novozvanivka in the Luhansk sector came under fire from grenade launchers and small arms. "In the Donetsk sector, the Russian occupation forces used 120mm mortars today to shell the village of Pisky [close to the ruined Donetsk airport].

A sniper was also active there. Grenade launchers and small arms were used to attack the villages of Novhorodske and Zaitseve, and the town of Avdiyivka," the update said. "In total, there were 24 attacks. Four servicemen were wounded in action," the ATO HQ added.

As UNIAN reported earlier, shelling of Ukrainian positions in Donbas was reported in all sectors on Saturday, January 21, with the total number of attacks on Ukrainian troops reaching 33 instances.

The Mariupol sector alone saw 15 attacks. In particular, three skirmishes between Ukrainian troops and Russian-backed militants were reported in Avdiyivka's industrial zone on Saturday. Each of them lasted at least an hour.

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http://www.unian.info/war/1737067-a...to-partially-withdraw-troops-from-donbas.html
Adviser to Ukraine's Interior Ministry, Ilya Kiva, claims Russian troops have started to partially withdraw from Donbas, rolling back to Russian territory, according to TV Channel 112.

"Russia has now started to partially withdraw its troops. It has begun, and there's a move. But it has created very good logistics recently that if the Ukrainian army starts to advance or if there is a political or individual will, they will mass as well," he said, Channel 112 reported.

According to Kiva, claiming his statement is proven by intelligence data, the Russian troops are gradually moving away from Donbas to Russia, and this indicates that the Kremlin is weakening its control over these areas.

Earlier, Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov said that Ukraine's task for 2017 is to retake the internationally recognized state borders in Donbas, and the long-term plans include the return of Russia-annexed Crimea.

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http://www.unian.info/war/1737177-u...onbas-mortars-heavy-machine-guns-snipers.html
The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 41 times in the past 24 hours with four Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers fired heavy machine guns and small arms on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Talakivka, Lebedynske, Hnutove, Pavlopil, Chermalyk, Shyrokyne, and Vodiane. Enemy snipers were also active in the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, and the village of Novotryitske.

In the Luhansk sector, the militants used grenade launchers and small arms in the villages of Valuiske, Krymske, Novo-Oleksandrivka, Novozvanivka, and Stanytsia Luhanska," the report says. In the Donetsk sector, Russia's military hybrid force used banned 120mm mortars to shell the village of Pisky.

A sniper was also active there. "The town of Avdiyivka and the villages of Novhorodske, Luhanske and Zaitseve were attacked with the use of rocket-propelled grenades and small arms," the press center said.

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http://www.unian.info/war/1737277-ato-hq-doubts-disengagement-in-stanytsia-luhanska-soon.html

Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) press officer Leonid Matiukhin has said the ATO Headquarters doubts that the disengagement of forces and military equipment in the village of Stanytsia Luhanska in eastern Ukraine will take place in the near future, according to TV Channel 112.

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http://www.unian.info/war/1737711-tuka-says-who-will-fight-in-donbas-if-russia-leaves.html
Ukrainian Deputy Minister for temporarily occupied territory and internally displaced people George Tuka says that if Russia takes a final decision to withdraw its regular troops from Donbas, they account for about 30% of those who are fighting there, while the rest are non-controlled groups, according to TV Channel 112 Ukraine.

"According to different estimates, their share is about 30% of the combatants who are in Ukrainian territory. Another 30% are the so-called "Cossacks" and various groups that are often non-controlled. And the remaining 30% are those Ukrainian citizens who continue fighting against the Ukrainian government," he said, Channel 112 Ukraine reported.

Russia reduces financial assistance to the quasi-formations in Donbas every month, Tuka said. He also added that Russian financial injections in occupied Crimea had also decreased. As UNIAN reported earlier, Adviser to Ukraine's Interior Ministry, Ilya Kiva, claimed Russian troops had started to partially withdraw from Donbas, rolling back to Russian territory.

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16:02
Four Ukrainian soldiers wounded in Donbas in past 24 hours - Ukrainian Defense Ministry (Part 2)

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?pg=10&id=729292
January 23, 2017 11:59

Ukrainian army attacks Donbas' Zaitseve - local authorities
DONETSK. Jan 23 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian army attacked the Zaitseve neighborhood on the northern outskirts of Horlivka, damaging a residential building, local authorities said.

"An attack conducted from Ukrainian positions began in the evening [on Sunday] and shells hit the residential area during the night. So far, we can confirm that one house was hit directly at 159 Poletayeva Street. Fortunately, there are no casualties," Zaitseve administration head Irina Dikun told Interfax on Monday.

She said the damage might be larger as the area had not been fully examined.

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[Hindustani78]

http://www.unian.info/war/1739091-r...times-in-last-day-using-banned-artillery.html

The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 51 times in the past 24 hours with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.


In the Mariupol sector, the militants repeatedly used 120mm and 82mm mortars to shell the towns of Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, and the village of Shyrokyne.

"The enemy fired rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the villages of Pavlopil, Hnutove, Talakivka, Novotroyitske, Shyrokyne, Vodiane, and Lebedynske. Additionally, snipers were active in Novotroyitske and Shyrokyne," the report says.


In the Luhansk sector, the occupiers used banned 122mm artillery systems, and 120mm and 82mm mortars to attack the village of Troyitske. The village of Novozvanivka and the town of Popasna came under mortar fire.

"The militants opened fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms on the villages of Krymske, Troyitske, Novozvanivka, Novo-Oleksandrivka, as well as Stanytsia Luhanska, where the disengagement of forces was scheduled to take place," the press center said.

In the Donetsk sector, Russia's hybrid military force used banned 120mm mortars to attack the village of Luhanske, while rocket-propelled grenades and small arms were fired on the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Zaitseve and Opytne.

A sniper was active in the village of Pisky. Furthermore, Luhanske was attacked by infantry fighting vehicles.

Head of the Information Resistance Group, military analyst and Member of Parliament Dmytro Tymchuk says that the probability of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine remains high.

Russia continues massing its troops on the border with Ukraine, and these forces could be engaged to invade, he said.

"We see now that in addition to the ATO zone, there are virtually two new armies on our eastern borders, and three new divisions have been formed on the basis of the armies," he added.

Paratroopers from the 81st separate airmobile brigade of the Airborne Forces of Ukraine performed combat training tasks as an "offensive" under cover of regular artillery units, as well as under conditions of enemy artillery shelling.

http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/...ent-of-rf-division-on-the-ukrainian-boundary/
The multinational inspection group of Ukraine along with Canadian and Danish inspectors confirms deployment of the Russian division in the region near the Ukrainian State Boundary. Col. Oleksiy Vershyhora who led this group stated it during a briefing in Kyiv.

“Ukrainian, Canadian, and Danish inspectors saw that RF was actively deploying the 150th motorized rifle division of 10 500 persons near the Ukrainian boundary. According to the Russian party, the division will be completely formed by December 2017”, Col. Vershyhora said.

Moreover, according to the officer, the inspection group found and visually confirmed concentration of different artillery systems near Novocherkask.

He also said the Russian party limited the area for helicopter inspection over military airfields and training fields to 25 km along the Ukrainian boundary, then the flights were cancelled, so the inspectors moved by roads.

He reminded that under the Vienna Documents 2011 the inspectors would be revising the received information during 14 days. They will send it through official channels to the OSCE countries, including to Russian Federation.

PA Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

 

[Hindustani78]

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/398826.html
One Ukrainian soldier has been wounded in the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) zone in the east of the country over the past day, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk has said.

"Over the past day no Ukrainian soldier has been killed, but one soldier wounded in Krasnohorivka," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Motuzianyk said that in the Luhansk sector the hostilities were conducted in Popasniansky district. The enemy actively used heavy weapons - guns and mortars, firing 30 mines and several artillery shells on ATO positions.

Over the past day, a total of 11 enemy attacks took place in the Luhansk sector, including heavy weapons.

In the Donetsk sector the most difficult situation is preserved in Avdiyivka industrial zone. The militants had been intermittently conducting a massive fire on ATO positions for about four hours.

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18:18
Donetsk militias say Yasynuvata environs come under mortar fire

18:17
LPR blames Kyiv for again disrupting pullback of troops from contact line near Stanytsia Luhanska

16:59
Kyiv calls on Russia to release Ukrainian citizen Sushchenko promptly - Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

15:22
Lavrov sees no sign of Kyiv's ability to reach agreements on Donbas (Part 2)

11:52
Donbas conflicting parties trade shelling accusations

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.unian.info/war/1743167-ato-hq-occupiers-in-donbas-use-grads-ifvs-1-wia-in-last-day.html

The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 48 times in the past 24 hours with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Mariupol sector, the militants used banned 122mm artillery systems, and 120mm and 82mm mortars to attack the towns of Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Zhovte, Berezove, Vodiane, and Shyrokyne. "The occupiers attacked Krasnohorivka, using Grad multiple rocket missile systems.

They also fired rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on Maryinka, and the villages of Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodiane, Shyrokyne, and Novotroyitske. Snipers were active in Novotroyitske and Maryinka. Additionally, Shyrokyne was attacked by infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs)," the report says.

In the Luhansk sector, Russia's hybrid military force used 120mm and 82mm mortars to shell the villages of Troyitske and Novozvanivka, while rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and small arms were fired on the villages of Orikhove, Zhovte, and Novozvanivka.

In the Donetsk sector, the militants opened fire from 120mm and 82mm mortars on the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Zaitseve and Troyitske. Further, Avdiyivka, and the villages of Luhanske and Zaitseve came under fire from grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms.

"One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action, two got injuries," the ATO HQ said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/399033.html
Nineteen officials from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) were killed in action in eastern Ukraine, SBU chief Vasyl Hrytsak said.

"Unfortunately, the war has claimed the lives of many SBU officials. A total of 19 officials were killed in action during the war in the eastern part of our country. Over 100 were wounded," Hrytsak said in Kyiv on Thursday during the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/399053.html
The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), which met by video link on Thursday, discussed the situation around a Donetsk filtering station, with Ukraine insisting on security compliance being the main element of the Minsk peace process, according to Darka Olifer, spokesperson for ex-president Leonid Kuchma, who represents Ukraine in the TCG.

"A TCG videoconference has just taken place. The main focus was on smooth operation of the Donetsk filtering station. Shelling could leave a number of populated localities without water, which may lead to a humanitarian disaster," Olifer wrote on Facebook.

Ukraine pointed out the fact that security is the main element of the Minsk process, she said.

"The Minsk Agreements must be implemented in full, including by sticking to the dividing line established by the September 19, 2014 Memorandum. Restoring this line is one of main components of regional security," Kuchma's spokesperson said.

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16:31
Three Ukrainian soldiers wounded in Donbas in past 24 hours - Ukrainian Defense Ministry (Part 2)

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.unian.info/war/1744822-u...litants-use-grad-tank-against-ato-forces.html

In particular, on the Mariupol line, the militants used mortars of various calibers, shelling Lebedinske, Krasnohorivka, Talakivka, Shyrokine and Vodiane. Rocket-propelled grenades and small arms were fired on Shyrokine, Novohryhorivka and Pavlopil, while Shyrokine was shelled by an enemy tank. A sniper was reported shooting at Novotroitsk.


On the Luhansk line, Russian occupation forces used MLRS BM-21 Grad firing 20 shells at our positions toward Novozvanivka. Vodiane and Popasna were shelled from 82mm mortars.

On the Donetsk line, the enemy used 82mm mortars, firing at our positions in the area of Avdiyivka. Grenade launchers of various types were fired on Novozvanivka and Avdiyivka as well.

In total, as of 18:00, 31 shellings were recorded. A Ukrainian soldier has been killed.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/399154.html

Militant forces conducted 63 strikes on the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist peration (ATO) positions in Donbas over the past day, killing two Ukrainian servicemen, the Ukrainian military said.

Regardless of any agreements, the majority of strikes involve mortars of different calibers and heavy artillery, the press service of the ATO headquarters said on its Facebook page on Friday.

According to the press service, 152mm artillery weapons, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers and small arms were used against Shyrokyne near the city of Mariupol. Grenade launchers and small arms were fired on Lebedynske, Talakivka, Krasnohorivka and Vodiane, small arms and grenade launchers were used against Novotroyitske, Hnutove and Pavlopil, and Novotroyitske came under sniper fire as well.

Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Novozvanivka, Vodiane, Novo-Oleksandrivka and Popasna in the Luhansk region also came under fire, the press service said.

Mortars were fired on Ukrainian Armed Forces positions near Avdiyivka, Verkhniotoretske and Zaitseve in the Donetsk region. Grenade launchers and small arms were used against Novhorodske, Kamyanka and Avdiyivka.

– ATO HQ

KYIV. Jan 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Militant forces conducted 63 strikes on the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist peration (ATO) positions in Donbas over the past day, killing two Ukrainian servicemen, the Ukrainian military said.

Regardless of any agreements, the majority of strikes involve mortars of different calibers and heavy artillery, the press service of the ATO headquarters said on its Facebook page on Friday.

According to the press service, 152mm artillery weapons, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers and small arms were used against Shyrokyne near the city of Mariupol. Grenade launchers and small arms were fired on Lebedynske, Talakivka, Krasnohorivka and Vodiane, small arms and grenade launchers were used against Novotroyitske, Hnutove and Pavlopil, and Novotroyitske came under sniper fire as well.

Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Novozvanivka, Vodiane, Novo-Oleksandrivka and Popasna in the Luhansk region also came under fire, the press service said.

Mortars were fired on Ukrainian Armed Forces positions near Avdiyivka, Verkhniotoretske and Zaitseve in the Donetsk region. Grenade launchers and small arms were used against Novhorodske, Kamyanka and Avdiyivka.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.unian.info/war/1747262-m...donbas-60-times-ato-forces-report-3-wias.html

Russian occupation troops in Donbas in the past day opened fire 60 times on the positions of the Ukrainian forces in the past day, as reported by the press center of the Headquarters of the Anti-Terrorist Operation. On the Mariupol line, 122 mm artillery fired on Lebedynske, as well as an enemy tank and 82 mm mortars. 120 mm and 82 mm mortars were fired on Shyrokine, Vodiane, Talakіvka, Hnutove, Lebedynske, Opytne and Pavlopil.


"Militants fired on Hnutove, Lebedynske, Vodiane, Novotroitske, Berezove, Talakivka and using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms. A sniper was shooting on Novotroitske and Hnutove," reads the HQ report on Facebook. On the Donetsk line, the invaders shelled our positions in the area of Avdiyivka using 152 mm artillery. Rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns were fired on Zaitseve and Luhanske, while Avdiyivka and Troitske were shelled from mortars of various calibres.


On the Luhansk line, the enemy shelled Novozvanivka from the anti-tank missile launchers. Mortars and rocket-propelled grenades were fired at Troitske, Novozvanivka, Krymske and Novo-oleksandrivka.

The enemy IFV was also reported firing on Krymske. A total of 60 attacks was recorded. Three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/399398.html
Some 192,209 military men and soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who took part in the anti-terrorist operation, have received the status of war veteran since the beginning of the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesperson Dmytro Hutsuliak has said.

At a briefing in Kyiv he informed that the Defense Ministry conferred a decoration to 36,000 soldiers and Armed Forces personnel, more than 12,000 soldiers were decorated by the state.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/399406.html
The Ukrainian delegation to the OSCE has expressed disappointment due to Russia's reluctance to give consent to the extension of the OSCE mission observers' mandate for the entire stretch of the border adjoining the territory of Donbas temporarily uncontrolled by Kyiv.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, on January 27, 2017 the OSCE Permanent Council at the 1,130th special meeting decided to extend until April 30, 2017 the mission observers' mandate for two Russian checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk.

"In connection with this decision, the Ukrainian delegation to the OSCE made an interpretative statement, in which expressed deep disappointment with Russia's stubborn refusal to give consent to the expansion of the mission's mandate on the entire stretch of the border adjacent to the territory of Donbas temporarily uncontrolled by the government of Ukraine," the report says.

According to the Ukrainian delegation, such actions of the Russian Federation indicate its intention to continue the delivery of heavy weapons, military equipment, regular troops, rebels, support terrorist activities in the territory of Ukraine.

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01/28 15:25 DPR reports 1,300 Kyiv's shellings, death of militiaman in past 24 hrs

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.unian.info/war/1747926-militants-launch-assault-on-avdiyivka-industrial-zone.html

Russian occupation troops have launched intense fire using small arms and mortars near the industrial zone of Avdiyivka in the morning on January 29, as reported by the press center of the Headquarters of the Anti-Terrorist Operation.


"Through an efficient maneuver technique and counterattack the Ukrainian Armed Forces have stopped the enemy and prevented them from capturing positions of the Ukrainian forces.

The Russian occupation forces suffered significant loss," a statement read. According to the report, enemy provocations aimed to accuse the Ukrainian side of violating agreements reached earlier.

Currently, the situation in Avdiyivka industrial zone remains tense, according to the report. "The enemy continues its assault and there are persistent attempts to force the Ukrainian positions to retreat.

Unfortunately, we have also suffered losses," according to the press center. As UNIAN reported earlier, militants attacked Ukrainian positions 55 times over the past day. One Ukrainian soldier was reported wounded.

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Interfax ru

14:07
THREE UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS KILLED, ONE INJURED IN AVDIIDKA INDUSTRIAL ZONE NEAR DONETSK - UKRAINIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY REPRESENTATIVE

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.unian.info/war/1748011-d...sualties-caused-by-fighting-in-avdiyivka.html
Three Ukrainian soldiers have been reported killed and one wounded as a result of today's assault launched by Russian-backed militants near Avdiyivka's industrial zone, according to press secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for ATO Oleksandr Motuzyanyk.

"Unfortunately, as of this moment, information has been confirmed about three soldiers that were killed and one wounded," Motuzyanyk said.

The situation in Avdiyivka's industrial zone remains tense, with the enemy shelling Ukrainian positions from all available weapons but refraining from storming, according to Motuzyanyk. Militants' provocations in Avdiyivka aim to accuse the Ukrainian side of violating the ceasefire agreements, the press secretary emphasized.

"Ukrainian troops are in a state of high alert across the whole contact line," Motuzyanyk added.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian occupation troops launched intense fire near the industrial zone of Avdiyivka at about 05:00 a.m. today, January 29.

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http://www.unian.info/war/1747262-m...donbas-60-times-ato-forces-report-3-wias.html
Russian occupation troops in Donbas in the past day opened fire 60 times on the positions of the Ukrainian forces in the past day, as reported by the press center of the Headquarters of the Anti-Terrorist Operation. On the Mariupol line, 122 mm artillery fired on Lebedynske, as well as an enemy tank and 82 mm mortars. 120 mm and 82 mm mortars were fired on Shyrokine, Vodiane, Talakіvka, Hnutove, Lebedynske, Opytne and Pavlopil.


"Militants fired on Hnutove, Lebedynske, Vodiane, Novotroitske, Berezove, Talakivka and using rocket-propelled grenades and small arms.

A sniper was shooting on Novotroitske and Hnutove," reads the HQ report on Facebook. On the Donetsk line, the invaders shelled our positions in the area of Avdiyivka using 152 mm artillery. Rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns were fired on Zaitseve and Luhanske, while Avdiyivka and Troitske were shelled from mortars of various calibres.
*************

 

[Hindustani78]

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/399851.html

Militants fired on Avdiyivka using four Grad packages about 6 a.m., a press officer of the 72d separate mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on the 112.Ukraine TV channel.

"According to reports from Donetsk, people saw that there were shootings from four different points, four different military facilities. Shells were hit the old part of the town. The town is burning. There are victims among the civilian population," the spokesperson said.

She added that the number of victims and injured persons are being specified.

***************
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/399924.html
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost seven servicemen killed and 35 injured over the past two days due to the escalation of the situation in the Avdiyivka area (Donetsk region), Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council secretary Oleksandr Turchynov said.

"We have lost four combatants, 12 have been injured over the day before yesterday, and over the past 24 hours there are three killed and many more injured - 23," Turchynov said at a meeting with Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis on Tuesday.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/400070.html
Fierce battles are ongoing in the Avdiyivka area as of noon on Tuesday, militants are using heavy weaponry, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' 72nd separate mechanized brigade's assistant commander Oleksandr Samarsky told journalists.

"The battle is very intense and continues," Samarsky said.

Asked to comment on the situation with the territories previously taken by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Samarsky said: "We are holding them completely. What has been under our control remains under our control."

*******************
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/400121.html
Ukrainian armed forces' servicemen have no order not to return fire in and around Avdiyivka in Donbas but are not shelling the militias' artillery crews deployed in residential areas, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

"I would like to put you at ease in the first place," Poroshenko said. "Our servicemen from the 72nd brigade and other units are brilliantly defending their positions. They have no order not to respond to destructive fire, and they have every chance to defend themselves," Poroshenko said at a conference with heads of defense and security agencies on Tuesday.

"Ukrainian servicemen do not return fire when the criminals, Russian militants deploy artillery systems, tanks, and multiple rocket launchers right in residential neighborhoods of Donetsk and Yasynuvata," he said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/400086.html
The OSCE Permanent Council is holding an extraordinary meeting to address the escalation of the fighting near Avdiyivka, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maryana Betsa said on Tuesday evening.

"The OSCE has begun an extraordinary meeting," Betsa said on Twitter. "We are calling on our partners to increase pressure on Russia," she said.

The Ukrainian mission to the OSCE said on Twitter with reference to Ukrainian Permanent Representative Ihor Prokopchuk that the Ukrainian authorities are doing all they can to help the people in Avdiyivka, which has been left without heating, electricity, and water supply because of the shelling.

**************************
Ukraine expects statements from international partners following an initiative to introduce the issue of the escalation of the situation in Avdiyivka for consideration of the UN Security Council, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

He said at a meeting with the heads of security agencies on Tuesday that he has ordered the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential administration Kostiantyn Yeliseyev to put forward the issue of the escalation of the situation in Avdiyivka for consideration of the UN Security Council immediately.

"We expect relevant statements from our international partners today," Poroshenko said.

"Apart from that, the task was given to organize negotiations as part of the Trilateral Contact Group. Partners in the United States, the European Union and NATO were informed about the situation," the Ukrainian presidential press service said.

Poroshenko also said that the Ukrainian side contacted the OSCE and the relevant orders were given to Ukrainian representatives in the Joint Center on Control and Coordination of issues related to the ceasefire regime and the stabilization of the situation at the contact line in Donbas.

*****************

Heavy shelling from prohibited weapons of the city of Avdiyivka, the Donetsk region, is a blatant violation of the ceasefire, as stipulated by the Minsk agreements, the spokesperson for the European Union's high representative said.

"The intense fighting around Avdiyivka in the last few days, involving heavy shelling with proscribed weapons and leading to a considerable number of casualties, is a blatant violation of the ceasefire, as stipulated by the Minsk agreements. It puts civilian inhabitants at grave risk," the spokesperson said in a statement posted on European External Action Service website on Tuesday.

Furthermore, the latest incidents have already caused major disruptions in the provision of basic utility services to local communities, the spokesperson said.

"We call for the fighting to stop immediately. This would also allow for the urgent repair of critical infrastructure. Full observance of the ceasefire is a crucial step towards the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, which is the basis for a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the conflict, respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the statement said.

The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission must be granted full and unrestricted access to all conflict-affected areas, the statement said.

***********************

Two soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were wounded and one injured in the anti-terrorist operation area in Donbas as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk told the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper.

"According to operational data, two people are wounded and another one has got a battle injury. [We recorded] 25 instances of shelling along the entire contact line at this point," Motuzianyk said.

He said earlier on Tuesday that the OSCE and the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) tried to convince the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) to establish a ceasefire regime to allow for repairs of municipal infrastructure.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/400125.html
Two Ukrainian armed forces servicemen have been wounded and two others sustained other injuries as government forces' positions have been shelled in Donbas; 46 such incidents had been recorded as of 6:00 p.m., the press center of the anti-terrorist operation reported on Facebook on Tuesday evening.

"A total of 46 instances of shelling have been recorded. Two of our servicemen have been wounded and two others injured," the press center said.

In the Donetsk sector, militants fired about 100 Grad launcher rounds and also used 152mm artillery systems and tanks to shell Ukrainian armed forces' positions near Avdiyivka. Militants also used 120mm mortars to shell Avdiyivka, Opytne, and Verkhniotoretske, and grenade launchers and small arms to fire on Luhanske, it said.

In the Mariupol sector, militants used 122mm artillery systems to shell Vodyane and Berdyanske and 120mm mortars to shell Novohryhorivka, Krasnohorivka, Pavlopil, Talakivka, Novotroyitske, and Vodiane.

In the Luhansk sector, militants repeatedly fired 82mm mortars against Ukrainian government forces' positions near Krymske, Troyitske, and Novozvanivka, the press center said.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1750397-...in-donetsk-morgue-after-two-day-fighting.html
The 72nd Ukrainian separate mechanized brigade of guards stationed in eastern Ukraine has disclosed the number of the Russian army's casualties in Donbas in the past two days.

"About 60 bodies of Russian soldiers are now in the Kalininsky district morgue in the [Russian-occupied] city of Donetsk," the brigade wrote on Facebook.

A confidential informant claims that casualties of local fighters are not even included in the statistics. "According to the verified data, the enemy's losses in the past two days of intense fighting have exceeded a hundred men," the post said.

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22:56
U.S. CALLS FOR IMMEDIATELY DECLARING CEASEFIRE IN EASTERN UKRAINE, ENSURING OSCE MONITORS' ACCESS - DEPARTMENT OF STATE STATEMENT

22:54
U.S. DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENCE NEAR AVDIIVKA, YASYNUVATA IN EASTERN UKRAINE - DEPARTMENT OF STATE STATEMENT

21:34
Ukrainian govt forces' positions in Donbas shelled about 50 times over past 24 hours - Kyiv

20:14
Journalist wounded in shelling in Donbas

19:01
DPR authorities believe that Kyiv wishes to use Avdiivka situation to draw world's attention to itself

18:40
JCCC's Ukrainian team reports ongoing hostilities near Avdiivka

17:44
DPR Defense Ministry reports journalists come under fire in Donetsk

17:37
Ukrainian foreign minister says ready for any meetings on Donbas, including in Normandy format, if they can produce result

16:42
Two civilians killed in shelling of Donetsk - DPR

15:49
Nearly 12,000 Avdiivka residents may be evacuated to nearest Ukrainian populated localities - emergencies service head

14:55
Seven Ukrainian servicemen killed, 35 injured near Avdiivka over past 2 days - Ukrainian national security, defense council secretary (Part 2)

14:06
DPR refutes info about shelling JCCC observers

13:47
Ukrainian army attacks kill 6, injure 13 in DPR in past 24 hours - DPR Defense Ministry

13:23
DPR Defense Ministry reports Ukrainian military's failed attempt to break through in Mariupol direction

12:38
Coke Plant using coke gas to heat Avdiivka, hopes natural gas and power supply restores - general director

12:22
DPR MILITIA IS NOT MOUNTING OFFENSIVE ON AVDIIVKA, IS NOT USING HEAVY WEAPONS - DPR DEFENSE MINISTRY'S OFFICIAL TO INTERFAX

12:20
DPR reports massive attack on Donetsk suburbs

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1753986-...sition-identified-volunteers-photo-video.html

For two days in a row Russian hybrid army has been massively shelling Avdiyivka in violation of the Minsk agreements, using cannon artillery, mortars and MLRSs, the activists from the international OSINT community InformNapalm said

Occupation troops resort to their usual human shield tactics, being fully aware that the Ukrainian Army will not strike back with the artillery if this threatens residential areas," InformNapalm wrote.

OSINT investigators at InformNapalm have analyzed one of the videos earlier published on YouTube to define the position of the spotted MRLS and its firing direction.

The video captured BM-21 Grad MLRS firing rockets. It was filmed on January 31, 2017 at 10:40 AM (local time). According to eyewitnesses, it was the sixth "pack" (1 pack = 40 rockets) fired by Russian troops from this position starting from January 1, 2017. InformNapalm volunteers have discovered that rockets were fired from the spot located in Budionivsky District of Donetsk – between the ring road and wood line, 250 meters from Sigma superstore and 450 meters from Kozachok kindergarten located in Donsky District of Donetsk. Geolocation and georeference is shown in the screenshot below. Exclamation point marker indicates the MLRS position, the red arrow shows the firing direction," the volunteers said.

According to the report, Avdiyivka that endured intense shelling in the recent days is located 16.5 kilometers from the firing position along the indicated direction of the shooting. The maximum range of 9M22\9M22U high-explosive fragmentation rocket projectile is 20.4 kilometers.

"Apparently, Russian hybrid forces follow the advice of their leader – President Putin, who clearly explained the war tactics employed in Donbas: "Let's see anyone from the military dare shoot at their own people who we will be behind [Russian-occupation forces] – not in front of them, but behind them. Let them dare shoot at women and children." In violation of the Minsk agreements, the Russian hybrid forces continue using heavy weapons (that were supposed to be removed from the contact line two years ago) and employ barbaric terrorist tactics of warfare, firing from residential areas," the volunteers wrote.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/400338.html
Militants opened fire on the brigades of energy workers and pyrotechnic groups accompanying them of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, thus violating the cease fire regime declared by them until 17:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov said.

"Pyrotechnic groups of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and brigades of power engineers near Avdiyivka are being shelled. People are lying on the ground. There are no wounded and killed people. Nasty provocateurs [!]," Avakov wrote on his Twitter about 15:20 p.m.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/400427.html
As many as 132 civilian residents, including 70 children, were evacuated from the Avdiyivka town, Donetsk region, as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service said on its official website on Wednesday.

In particular, 20 people from an elderly home were evacuated to the Biletske town, Dobropillia district, 86 people (including 62 children) were accommodated in the Pearl of the Donetsk region and Emerald Town holiday homes in the Sviatohorsk town, Slovyansk district, 11 people (including four children) were delivered to the Mariupol town. Furthermore, 13 people (including three children) were evacuated by a chaplain of the Good Message church to the Pokrivsk town, two people (including a child) to the Kostiantynivka town.

The State Emergency Service confirmed that there are neither killed nor injured people in the State Emergency Service bomb disposal teams and emergency brigades of electric technicians, who came under fire during the restoration operations at about 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday, and the bomb disposal experts and electric technicians are on the way back to Avdiyivka.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/400424.html
An Antonov An-26 transport aircraft of the Ukrainian Navy came under a small arms attack over the Black Sea, near the Odesa gas deposit, the crew were not injured, the plane was damaged by a bullet, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said.

"On February 1, during a practice flight in Ukraine's exclusive (maritime) economic zone, near the Odesa gas deposit, an An-26 of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' Navy came under a small arms attack from the oil rigs previously seized by the Russian Federation," Poltorak wrote on his Facebook page.

"As a result of the shelling, the aircraft was damaged," he said.

"The aircraft crew were not injured, the An-26 continued executing the flight mission," Poltorak said.

Russia has not yet commented on the incident.

************
22:01
Ukrainian troops shell Molodyozhny village, woman injured - LPR

21:54
Minsk so far refraining from comments on Russia creating border zone on border with Belarus

21:52
Ukraine renews shelling of Donetsk with heavy weapons - DPR (Part 2)

21:31
OSCE SMM refutes reports of attack on its UAVs in Donbas

21:22
Two soldiers killed, six injured in Donbas on Wednesday - Ukrainian military

21:22
Situation in Donetsk volatile, unpredictable - OSCE SMM Deputy Chief Monitor Hug

21:15
FSB director orders border zone on border with Belarus (Part 2)

20:20
Ukraine's big military losses near Avdiivka due to aggravating situation around its presidency of UN SC - DPR leader (Part 2)

14:20
Another Ukrainian serviceman killed near Avdiivka - deputy defense minister

13:13
Yasynuvata-Donetsk road closed for traffic

13:02
RUSSIAN MILITARY MONITORING NATO EXERCISES IN BLACK SEA - SHOIGU

12:34
Five residents of Avdiyivka wounded in artillery strikes in past 3 days - police

10:02
Two civilians killed in Ukrainian army attacks in Donbas - DPR Defense Ministry

09:30
Ukrainian army's Grad rocket launchers continue to shell Donetsk outskirts - Basurin

09:28
Mine workers injured in Ukrainian army attack on Makiivka

People take part in a funeral ceremony for the seven Ukrainian servicemen, who were recently killed during a military conflict in the east of the country, in Independence Square in central Kiev, Ukraine, February 1, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko


The Ukrainian military said on February 1 that nine servicemen and one civilian were also injured in the previous 24 hours.

Ukrainian officials had reported the deaths of seven soldiers in the past few days, the highest casualty toll in weeks.

The sides traded blame for the surge in hostilities, concentrated around the government-controlled town of Avdiyivka.

An emergency official, Vladislav Husinskyy, said that 175 people, including 88 children, had been evacuated to nearby towns by bus on the morning of February 1.

Shelling left many residents of the town north of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk without electricity, water supplies, and heating in temperatures well below freezing.

The AP news agency quoted residents of Donetsk as reporting incessant outgoing and incoming artillery salvos through the night and in the morning.

Separatists said two civilians were killed and another wounded in the shelling of Donetsk and the neighboring town of Makiyivka.

The UN Security Council on January 31 expressed "grave concern" over the "dangerous deterioration" in eastern Ukraine and called for a halt to the violence.

 

[Hindustani78]

Russian commander in Donbas

 

[Hindustani78]

Police show images from Avdiyivka in epicenter of Donbas fighting