Tuesday, June 16, 2015 - 10:14 (EEST) Section: Information Resistance, Top stories

Operational data from Information Resistance:

Over the past weekend (June 13-14, 2015), the activities of the Russian-terrorist forces in Donbas have intensified. The positions of Ukrainian troops, as well as settlements under the control of Ukrainian authorities, were shelled with heavy weapons; in several sectors, enemy infantry groups have attempted to move towards the positions of Ukrainian troops (all such attempts were stopped by the ATO forces’ fire).

During the last 24 hours, we observed fire strikes from 120-mm mortars and 122-mm artillery on the settlements of Opytne, Vodyane, Pisky, Krasnohorivka, Mar’inka, and Avdiivka (continuous shelling throughout the entire day). To the south of Donetsk (in the vicinity of Novomykhaylivka, Slavne, and Stepne), terrorists have used BM-21 Grad MLRS. In the same area, the enemy used tanks (a group of 5-6 vehicles was spotted near Opytne and to the southwest of the settlement; a tank group was also operating in the vicinity of Novomykhaylivka, after transferring there from Dokuchajevsk through Olenivka). Enemy infantry groups made attempts to pull forward to the positions of Ukrainian troops. Overall, we observed significant reinforcement of Russian-terrorist troops operating in the direction of Mar’inka and south of it, and to the north in the direction of Krasnohorivka.

In the vicinity of Nova Laspa and Starohnativka, the terrorists attempted to attack the advanced positions of the ATO forces using several infantry groups operating under cover of 120-mm mortar fire. After the ATO forces opened dense retaliatory fire, insurgents employed 122-mm artillery. Nevertheless, the ATO forces succeeded in pushing the insurgent infantry groups back to their original lines.

In the Artemivsk sector (near Zolote, Popasna, and Novozvanivka), insurgents fired at the positions of Ukrainian troops using AGS-17 grenade launchers, as well as 120-mm and 82-mm mortars. Fire strikes were carried out on the front echelons of the ATO forces, and in several instances – on [Ukrainian troop] strongholds.

In the vicinity of Luhanske [a settlement in Donetsk Oblast not to be confused with the city of Luhansk], insurgents continue using tanks and mortars in tandem. The enemy is trying to methodically destroy the advanced positions of the ATO forces in order to prevent the consolidation of Ukrainian troops on the positions occupied by the latter.

North of Troitske, insurgents employed BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems (2 units).

Almost all Ukrainian troop positions along the arc north of Donetske, from Novotoshkivka to Trokhizbenka (including Krymske, Sokilnyky, and Prychepylivka) were shelled and attacked during the past 24 hours. In this area, the enemy employed the forces of three mobile fire groups, which included armored vehicles (3-4 tanks and 4-5 armored combat vehicles in each), ZU-23-2 mobile anti-aircraft systems, and mortars mounted on vehicles. Terrorist infantry groups attempted to approach the advanced positions of the ATO forces, supported by AGS-17 grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. The terrorists also used several BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers (BTR-70 and BTR-80) to give direct support to their infantry groups northeast of the Bakhmut motorway.

During the past 24 hours in the Seaside [Mariupol] sector, insurgents shelled the objects and positions of ATO forces in the vicinity of Shyrokyne, as well as positions located north and northwest of that settlement (including near Pavlopil and Chermalyk). The terrorists mainly used small arms and AGS-17; however, by nightfall, the insurgents deployed two batteries of 2S1 122-mm self-propelled artillery guns and up to four Grad-P 9P132 (“Partisan”) [Grad-P Light portable rocket system] units towards Bezymenne, and used them to fire directly on ATO forces’ positions near Shyrokyne, as well as on the road leading to that settlement from the northwest.

Movements of insurgent vehicles and personnel:

• An insurgent unit (450-500 personnel, in several groups) has been transferred to the vicinity of Horlivka, through Yasynuvata and Yenakijeve. Artillery is being transferred as well (six 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled guns and five D-30 howitzers spotted over the last 24 hours);

• Two Tor-M1 anti-aircraft units transferred through Shakhtarsk. The convoy was escorted by two BTR-80 armored personnel carriers and 3 Kamaz trucks;

• Three Strela-10M self-propelled artillery systems were spotted on the stretch between Sadove and Khartsyzk;

• A local insurgent unit (at least 550 personnel in total) is being transferred from Alchevsk to Debaltseve in small groups (5-6 trucks in each);

• A convoy (four BTR-80 armored personnel carriers and four 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery guns) moved through Alchevsk in the direction of the Isakivske reservoir;

• South of Luhansk, we spotted 20 trucks with pontoon equipment (with the tactical numbers wiped on all of them).