https://www.unian.info/war/1757627-...eld-tactics-in-donetsk-bellingcat-report.html
The international investigative group of journalists and experts, Bellingcat, has identified exact locations in the occupied Donetsk used as launch sites for Grad multiple rocket launchers as they were shelling Avdiyivka January 31. War 09:00, 03 February 2017 450 READ LATER bellingcat.com
bellingcat.com
Bellingcat noted that “DPR” terrorists chose their missile launch sites near residential areas, thus endangering the civilians.
Militants fired at least 50 shells from the residential areas of Donetsk. Recent satellite photos and witness accounts confirm geolocation, which eventually helped to identify the exact launch sites of Grads. Bellingcat quoted several users of social networks as writing that on January 31 the militants were firing from Grads from a bypass road near the Auchan hypermarket.
Avdiyivka residents were writing in social networks of incoming explosions at the same time as the people in Donetsk were writing about the outgoing fire. In addition, a correspondent of the Russian propaganda newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda mentioned that she heard Grads at the funeral of the leader of “Vostok” battalion Ivan "Greek" Balakay January 31.
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https://www.unian.info/war/1757847-...raine-114-times-4-kia-17-wia-in-last-day.html
The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 114 times in the past 24 hours with four Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed in action (KIA) and 17 wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.
In the Donetsk sector, Russia's hybrid military forces fired from Grad multiple rocket launchers on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka and the villages of Pisky, Kamianka and Opytne. Here, the militants repeatedly used tanks, mortars of various calibers, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms during the day.
The villages of Hranitne and Luhanske were attacked with the use of 122mm artillery systems. Additionally, the enemy fired mortars of different calibers on the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Luhanske, Novhorodske, Troyitske, Verkhniotoretske, Vodiane and Pisky.
In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers shelled Grads on the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Shyrokyne, Novohryhorivka and Starohnatіvka. They also fired 122mm artillery systems and 120mm and 82mm mortars on the towns of Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Vodiane, Bohdanivka, Hranitne, Shyrokyne, Opytne and Chermalyk. The militants fired rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft guns and small arms on the villages of Berezove, Pavlopil, Hnutove and Vodiane. Furthermore, Chermalyk was attacked with the use of anti-tank systems. Enemy snipers were also active near Maryinka and Pavlopil.
In the Luhansk sector, Russian-backed militants opened fire from 152mm artillery systems on the village of Novozvanivka, mortars on the villages of Krymske and Syze, as well as rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the villages of Novozvanivka and Novo-Oleksandrivka.
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Ukraine’s military intelligence says there are signs indicating that the Russian-occupation forces are planning an offensive in eastern Ukraine, RBC-Ukraine reported citing its source in the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.
https://www.unian.info/war/1758637-russian-forces-plotting-offensive-in-donbas-intel.html
As UNIAN reported earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko at a meeting of the War Cabinet January 31 allowed the Armed Forces to return enemy fire, at the same time prohibiting any shelling of residential areas. At the moment, the troops do not go on the offensive, while individual assault raids are allowed.
A 32,000-strong Russian-occupation forces include 40% of mercenaries from various countries, including Russia, 30% of local separatists, and another 30% of the Russian troops on active military service.
As reported earlier, from the start of escalation near Avdiyivka on January 29, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported 10 KIA and another 66 WIA.
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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/400939.html
Donbas militants fired at the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the town of Avdiyivka about 6,000 shells since Monday, January 30, ten servicemen were killed, 66 more wounded, Gen. Maj. Andriy Tsvetkov, the first deputy head of the Ukrainian united operational headquarters said.
"The situation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone near Avdiyivka escalated in the period from January 29 to February 3. Illegal armed units attempted to conduct offensives and drive the Ukrainian Armed Forces away from their positions," Tsvetkov said during a meeting of the state commission for man-made and environmental safety and emergency situations on the situation in Avdiyivka in Kyiv on Friday.
"The enemy failed to achieve success due to organized actions of our troops and suffered losses. As of today, the enemy continues to shell the strongholds of our units.
The enemy has carried out about 40 long-lasting rounds of shelling of the positions and fired about 6,000 shells at the Ukrainian Armed Forces units," he said.
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The Ukrainian administration is currently not considering the issue of the introduction of martial law in the country, but the National Security and Defense Council will make decisions on the basis of its development due to the dynamically changing situation in Donbas, the Ukrainian presidential administration said.
"This option [the introduction of martial law] is currently not being discussed [...] You know that the situation on the front in Donbas is changeable, and therefore this decision will undoubtedly be made collectively, we have the NSDC, which will make a relevant decision," Kostiantyn Yeliseyev, the deputy head of the presidential administration, told a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.
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Military engagements [between combined Russia and separatist forces and Ukrainian troops] have erupted along the entire line of demarcation, a development not seen since 2014," Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk has said.
"I can say with certainty that military operations are taking place along the entire front, something that hasn't happened since 2014," he said during a briefing on Friday in Kyiv.
Motuzianyk said the number of enemy attacks exceeded 100 for the first time since April 2016. He said battles were held around the clock, with Russian occupying forces using grenade launchers, artillery and multiple-rocket launching systems (GRAD).
"More than 2,000 attacks on the flanks of Ukrainian forces were carried out using heavy weapons. There are casualties among the civilian populations. One local woman died, another was wounded. A foreign journalist photographer received an eye injury," the ATO spokesman said.
He said the enemy continued to threaten ATO troops near Shata Butovka, Opytne and Pisky.
"The village of Spartak and Donetsk International Airport have been hit with grenade launchers, other weapons, tanks and rockets, which were fired at Ukrainian soldiers day and night. Our troops returned fire," Motuzianyk said, adding that the enemy also was active in the Svitlodarsk bulge and near Horlivka.
He said in the Mariupol sector the number of barrages increased dramatically, from 35 to 72. The enemy used multiple-rocket launchers against Starohnativka and Novohryhorivka. Heavy artillery barrages targeted Chermalyke, Hnutove, and Russian irregulars also fired rockets at Shyrokyne from GRAD-P systems. The enemy continues to shell areas in Maryinka region. A woman there was wounded by shell shrapnel and four houses were damaged. There is no electricity and two modules manned by Ukrainian Border Service troops were damaged.
In the Luhansk sector there has also been heavy shelling, which resumed in Popasniansky district. Battles began around 10.00 in the morning and continued late through the night. The enemy used grenade launchers and artillery, firing more than 50 salvos. Russian troops and Russian irregulars also fired at Syze, Stanychno-Luhansky district in Krymsky Novoaidarsky district. At total of 15 enemy salvos were recorded, including eight from heavy weapons.
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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/401029.html
Illegal armed formations since the beginning of the day and up to 18.00 p.m. performed 66 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) zone, as a result, two soldiers have been killed and five - wounded.
"As of 18.00 p.m. there were recorded 66 shelling attacks. Unfortunately, two of our soldiers have been killed and five – wounded," a report of the press center of the ATO headquarters said on its Facebook page.
February 03, 2017
21:19
Situation in Avdiyivka has calmed down but blackout still ongoing - local authorities
21:03
LPR reports 42 Ukrainian shell attacks this week
19:39
Two Ukrainian servicemen killed, 5 wounded in Donbas on Friday
18:34
Eighteen militiamen, 6 civilians killed in Ukrainian troops' shellings in past week - DPR military official (Part 2)
18:28
DPR defense ministry warns Ukrainian troops of likelihood of "Avdiivka cauldron" in case of offensive
15:52
Over 150 persons evacuated from Donetsk, suburbs amid attacks - DPR
15:15
Three military, one Ukrainian rescue service official killed, another 19 were wounded in Donbas in past 24 hours (Part 2)
14:33
Ukrainian Defense Ministry explains armored vehicles in Avdiivka with formation of tactical reserves to deter possible incursions
13:42
DPR reports death of 2 civilians in attacks