A concentration of Russian-terrorist forces’ manpower and equipment is currently being observed in the vicinity of Pervomaisk and towards the settlement of Novotoshkivske. The transfer of forces and equipment is carried out in secret, the equipment is moved in small batches, the soldiers also move in small groups. Near the Bakhmut highway, the movement of a company tactical group (CTG) of the Russian Airborne Troops has been observed; the CTG is staffed by contract soldiers, who are disguised as the so-called “militia.”
In the vicinity of Shakhtarsk, the Russian-terrorist forces are setting up their positions for anti-aircraft defense. The arrival of a unit of SAM “Strela-10M” anti-aircraft missile systems (6 systems) has been observed in the area. The unit is staffed with anti-aircraft defense experts from Russia.
South of the settlement of Nikishyne (Shakhtarsk district of Donetsk region), the enemy strengthens the “second line” with new formations, staffed by Russian mercenaries and local insurgents. These formations, which amount to about 300 people, have been observed near the settlements of Timofiivka, Orlovo-Ivanivka, and Rozsypne. The units have a minimum number of military vehicles [at their disposal], [they] move primarily in seized civilian vehicles. According to preliminary data, these formations are tasked to advance to the frontline positions east of Yenakiieve.
The arrival of close to 120 mercenaries from Russia, who call themselves “volunteers – former policemen with the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs,” has been recorded in the village of Zuhres. In fact, the unit is staffed by Chechen police officers (Akhmad Kadyrov Patrol and Inspection Service Police), who during a show at the stadium in Grozny at the end of December last year, signed reports to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Chechnya R. Alkhanov that [they were] “ready to fulfill any an order of their Commander-in-Chief – the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia V.A. Kolokoltsev, and the Head of the Chechen Republic R.A. Kadyrov to protect the interests of the Russian Federation anywhere in the world. The unit of “Kadyrovites” has heavy infantry weapons. Also the unit is in possession of up to 10 armored vehicles (their crews consist of Russian mercenaries who were trained at a training camp in Rostov-on-Don).
South of Donetsk, in the vicinity of Dokuchajevsk –Telmanove, the Russian-terrorist forces’ combat formations continue to be reinforced. Movement of manpower and weapons, including armored vehicles and artillery, to the advanced positions has been observed. At least two artillery units and up to a dozen armored vehicles have just been observed arriving in the area.
In the area of Hranitne and Starohnativka, the enemy has again tried to push Ukrainian troops from their occupied positions with fire strikes and subsequent assault attempts. Ukrainian troops deflected all attempted attacks.
