Situation in the ATO zone
Situation in the ATO zone remains complicated. Militants continue infringing ceasefire agreements reached in Minsk. Terrorist mostly used mortar guns and small weapons during assaults, and in some cases armor was used. Frequency of barrel and missile artillery deployment decreased within recent days.
Within last 24 hours there were no fallen among Ukrainian military servicemen, 7 servicemen were wounded.
The biggest number of bombardments and assaults is recorded on the positions nearby Debaltsevo and Schastya towns. Defenders of Donetsk airport defeated an assault and still consolidate this strategic object.
Servicemen of the National Guard defeated an attempt of Russian mercenaries to encircle a checkpoint nearby Vuhlehirsk of Yenakiyevo town council.
Mine clearance took place by efforts of border guards and Armed Forces in Luhansk region nearby Horodysche and Nyzhnya Baranivka populated localities where, as informed previously, a border detachment and non-combatants’ agricultural equipment had tripped mines in September and October. As a result three antipersonnel mines and three trip wires were neutralized along the road adjacent to the state border.
There were no military clashes recorded at the border beyond ATO area. Attempts of Russian Armed Forces to conduct air reconnaissance using pilotless aircrafts were recorded again nearby Mariupol and on the border with temporarily occupied Crimea. The situation in Mariupol is calm; the National Guard of Ukraine, Security Service of Ukraine and other special forces subdivisions are taking operative measures aimed at uncovering subversive intelligence groups.
Mercenaries who had received training in field camps of the General Staff of the Armed Forces’ Main Intelligence Directorate of Russian Federation nearby Rostov-na-Donu continue entering Luhansk region from the territory of the Russian Federation. According to intelligence data received, within last 48 eight hours about 40 buses with terrorists entered the territory of Ukraine.A military convoy consisting of approximately 30 vehicles entered the territory of Ukraine yesterday night from the territory of the Russian Federation and proceeded towards Komsomolske populated locality. The convoy’s movement is being traced.
The USA Ambassador to OSCE Daniel Baer drew attention to insufficiency and weaknesses of Ukrainian-Russian border monitoring conducted by OSCE mission.He believes that OSCE is to extend its presence in the region and calls upon Russia to urgently start negotiations with Ukraine on issues of border monitoring and control implementation in compliance with Minsk agreements as well as immediate creation of buffer zone free from heavy armament.
Referring to the use of pilotless aircrafts from Germany in Donetsk, Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel stated that they might become an element of tightened monitoring in the conflict area. According to the Chancellor, Berlin is negotiating with OSCE on drones delivery.
Yesterday at 8:10 a border detachment of Luhansk detachment jointly with law enforcement officers detained 2 citizens of Ukraine in one of the checkpoints nearby Stanychno-Luhanske populated locality. Schemes of checkpoints location in Luhansk region and description of their working arrangements were found on these citizens.The detentioners were passed over to the counterintelligence for investigative activities.
In order to improve coordination between the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and volunteers, a decision on entering a structure of “Azov” regimen of the National Guard was made. It will offer a possibility to systematize and improve the preparation to deployment of volunteer battalions.At present new staff training and buildup of this regimen with specialists intended to train and establish control during combat activity are in progress. Training of single-discipline specialists continues, the regiment is being supplied with up-to-date mechanisms and equipment.
Within last 24 hours specialists of “Ukroboronprom” mobile teams repaired 3 combattanks, 7 armoured personnel carriers, 2 light armoured vehicles and 1 artillery system in ATO area alone.
Situation in the populated localities
Terrorists delivered artillery shelling on Kuybyshevskyi district in Donetsk city from 6:30 pm to 3:30 am. 10 residential buildings were damaged as a result of a shell hit.Numerous damages of gas distribution pipelines as well as technological gas facilities were recorded, which resulted in multiple disconnection of consumers from the gas supply.Besides, a shell hit a multi-storey building No.18 in Ionova Street in Leninskyi district yesterday.3 non-combatants died and 5 were wounded in Donetsk yesterday as a result of the bombardments.
Due to militants bombardments pump station of South-Donbas water line first rise remains cut off the electricity supply in Donetsk region. The water does not come in Chervonoarmiyska and Velykoanadolska filter plants, Donetsk filter plant is cut off the electricity supply too.In general, 60 populated localities are disconnected from the electricity supply.Maryinka, Shakhtarsk, Horlivka, Yasynyvata towns are partially disconnected.
Yesterday terrorists outshot a thermal power station in Schastya town using tanks and mortar guns. There are wounded. As a result of the thermal power station bombardment a fire emergency happened due to direct hit of a mine. Bombardments from the militants’ side continued through the fire-fighting operations. The station is partially inoperative, rotating power cuts started. Residential quarters of Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Lysychansk were partially cut of the electricity supply. Alchevsk, Perevalsk, Bilokurakyno populated localities also suffered from power cuts. Milovskyi, Bilovodskyi and Novopskovskyi districts were completely cut of the electricity supply.There also were problems with mobile communication. The terrorists’ bombardments are in fact directed against non-combatants. This situation might become especially dangerous as cold weather sets in.
Pyrotechnical subdivisions of the State Service of Ukraine for Emergency Situations found a miltants’ hideout where weapons and ammunition were kept.In particular, the pyrotechnic workers found approximately 20 tons of gunpowder, anti-tank grenades, 32 mortar bombs and 4 artillery shells. Within last 24 hours Pyrotechnical subdivisions of the State Service of Ukraine for Emergency Situations found and rendered safe 491 units of ammunition and explosives.In total, area of 5.1 ha was checked. In general, since the beginning of works on July 06 2014 22534 units of ammunition were found and confiscated. 957 administrative buildings and other premises were checked for presence of explosives. In total, area of 1385.6 ha and water surface of 37.5 ha were checked.
Rendition of psychological assistance to non-combatants in the East of Ukraine continues. In particular, such aid was given to approximately 55 thousand people.
According to the State Service of Ukraine for Emergency Situations, 355 thousand 396 people were internally displaced from the ATO area to other regions,including 111 thousand 402 children, 70 thousand 439 disabled and aged people. 55 thousand 702 people were displaced within the borders of Donetsk region and 28 thousand 25 people – within Luhansk region.402 дитини, 70 тис. 439 інвалідів та осіб похилого віку, у тому числі тимчасово переміщених в межах Донецької області – 55 тис. 702 особи, в межах Луганської області 28 тис. 25 осіб.
IDPs who officially register at coordination headquarters are provided with comprehensive state aid, including the lodging. As of today about 15 thousands of places of residence were designated for IDSp from the ATO area. We would like to remind a telephone number 101 for coordination of people leaving ATO zone. It can be dialed both from land lines and mobile phones.
Response of international community to the events in Ukraine
Brussels supports the position of Kyiv pertaining to absence of any ground to hold so-called elections which terrorists plan for the beginning of November in the areas temporarily controlled by them. It was the matter discussed during a meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin with the European Commissioner Stefan Fule. It was pointed out during the meeting that withdrawal of all the troops and heavy armament, efficient control in the border and progress in the hostages issue are key elements in bringing the situation in Donbas back to notmal. All these factors are to be efficiently monitored by OSCE representatives.
Summarizing the results of her three-day visit to Ukraine, USA Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland stated that all effective international sanctions against Russia would remain in force until all the international troops and weapons are withdrawn from Ukraine and all the hostages released. USA Ambassador to OSCE Daniel Baer stated that Russia keeps disregarding Minsk agreements while it keeps Ukrainian citizens hostage, i.e.a serviceperson Nadiya Savchenko and a film director Oleh Sentsov. Daniel Baer also stated that it was high time for Russian authorities and the terrorists it supports to implement the agreements made in Minsk and allow OSCE monitors fulfil their work without further delay.
