Situation in the ATO zone
Situation in the ATO zone remains stringent. After several days of comparative breathing spell terrorist became active again.
TodayonSeptember 26that 8:00amaworkingteamofjointcenteroncontrolandcoordinationforarmisticeissuesandphased stabilization of parties’ limiting boundary waslaunched.
Representatives of Ukrainian party, an OSCE monitoring group and 76 servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation became members of the working team.
The primary goal of the center working team lies in implementation of measures directed at establishing a total ceasefire mode – “Silence” mode.
In particular, in is envisaged to withdraw weapons of destruction with a caliber exceeding 100 mm to the designated distances and create 30 km partition area as predetermined by Minsk Memorandum, as well as clearing of previously installed mine barriers in defined areas of the hostilities.
The predetermined areas for ceasefire will be divided into four to five security sectors, 3 to 5 OSCE monitoring groups jointly with Ukrainian and Russian representatives working in each of them.
It is highly important that this working team of the joint center should be exerting control over ceasefire during the whole period of stabilization of the situation in the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The tasks set to the working team of the joint center are extremely relevant, for illegal armed groupings were repeatedly attacking checkpoints and positions of the ATO forces with fire within last 24 hours.
ForinstanceterroristscontinuetheirattemptstoseizepositionsofUkrainiantroopsnearbyNikishyno, whichtheyattackedbyfirefourtimes, andMaloorlivkainShakhtarskyidistrict. The fire attacks were held using artillery, mortar guns and light weapons, after which assault attempts were made. All the assaults were shattered and terrorists incurred losses. Terrorists shot one Ukrainian APC-80 and wounded 3 servicemen in this area nearby Kamyanka.
In Donetsk after 2 failed attempts to assail the airport militants outshot it three times using “Grad” rocket launchers and mortar guns. There is a video to your attention, showing the intensity of fire and giving evidence of terrorists maintaining Minsk agreements.
YesterdaynearbySartanasettlementinDonetskregionterroristsattackedthecheckpointinthecrossroads “Kominternove-Mariupol-Tolakivka” withmortarfire. During this bombardment a local inhabitant coordinating our special forces’ checkpoint bombardment was detained.
There were no fallen among Ukrainian military servicemen within last 24 hours.
According to the intelligence data collected, armed forces of the Russian Federation are continuing active radio and human intelligence from inside of the territories controlled by them. Terrorists are assigned a part of conducting a contact reconnaissance in order to detect the ATO forces positions.
Yesterday at 10:10 pm nearby rail crossing on “Zaporizke-Novoselivka” road border guards of Donetsk detachment detected an intelligence subversive group consisting of approximately 15 people who landed from a freight train moving from Donetsk towards Mariupol. As a result of the battle the subverters were made to retreat to the territories controlled by militants. ATO forces are cleaning up the ground where the subverters were found.
Ukrainian air domain infringements were not recorded within last 24 hours.
Situation in populated localities of the ATO zone
Law enforcement agencies of Ukraine continue investigation mass crimes of terrorists against non-combatants in Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, in Slovyansk town alone criminal proceedings on 24 episodes are conducted, with dead people involved. Three mass-casualty burials were found, in particular in cemeteries in Demyan Bidnyi and Smolna streets. The bodies were exhumed and sent to the bureau of forensic medical examination for autopsy and official assignment of cause of death. According to the preliminary information, these people died at the beginning and middle of July, when Slovyansk was controlled by Girkin’s terrorists. Names of 12 deceased have already been defined. The investigation continues.
Situation in Mariupol town remains complicated, though stable. Refugees from northern districts of Donetsk region were provided with approximately 40 per cent of state-funded places in Mariupol educational establishments. Railway and communal transport, educational establishment and kindergartens continue operating as usual. The town administration is organizing and directly controlling building of defensive installations for Ukrainian troops, and local entrepreneurs are helping to supply the construction with concrete blocks and iron sheets as well as necessary equipment.
Heavy presence on the side of the Ministry of Internal officers is maintained for the period of so-called special period. Workers of local iron and steel works are providing volunteer help in patrolling, which considerably facilitates the law enforcement officers’ work.
Terrorists continue ruining Donbas infrastructure. For instance, yesterday militants mined a road segment in Luhansk region from Holubivske village towards Toshivka village in Popasna district nearby Pervomaysk and also a so-called “Red bridge” nearby Kirovsk town.
Response of international community to the events in Ukraine
The European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht stated that there were no reasons so far to mitigate sanctions against Russia.
Despite the fact that European Committee was directed to prepare proposals on possible sanctions mitigation, Karel De Gucht emphasized that the European Committee is unlikely to recommend such actions. “At present there are no reasons to change anything pertaining to the sanctions. What is really needed is the fulfillment of peaceful regulation plan, respecting territorial integrity of Ukraine. So far we do not observe it», – he said.
The President of Latvia Andris Berzins called upon prevention of a “frozen conflict” appearance in Ukraine, helping to preserve the sovereignty of the country and handling the whole range of ongoing conflict in the region. According to him, Latvia will be supporting all the efforts on prevention of “frozen conflict” appearance in the eastern regions of Ukraine, within the framework of international organizations, both globally and regionally. The President of Latvia called upon Russia to withdraw its armed forces from Ukrainian territory without delay and stop supplying terrorist groups with weapons and mercenaries.
