Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas continue using heavy infantry weapons to shell the positions of Ukrainian troops and civilian objects (including heavy automatic grenade launchers, mortars, large caliber machine guns), also operating artillery systems.
In the seaside (Mariupol) direction, insurgents shelled the positions of Ukrainian troops near Shyrokyne using several 82-mm mortars similar to 2B9 “Vasilyok.”
Insurgents used the same weaponry to fire at positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Opytne and Vodyane.
Terrorists fired at the positions of Ukrainian troops near Mayorska station and the settlement of Avdiivka from 82- and 120-mm mortars.
In the vicinity of Pisky, Krasnohorivka, and the Butovka mine, insurgents actively use AGS-17 “Plamya” automatic grenade launchers and large-caliber machine guns similar to “Kord.” During shelling, the movement of several terrorist groups (up to 20-25 people each) has been observed in the direction of the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk.
In the vicinity of Luhanske, Lozove, Myronivka, Zolote, and Leniniske, terrorists are actively shelling the positions of Ukrainian troops from mortars (120-mm and 82-mm caliber) and other weapons (AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers, heavy machine guns NSV-12.7, “Utes,” and “Kord”; use of anti-aircraft cannons ZU-23-2 has been observed). The insurgent fire-strike groups are well coordinated in the Artemivsk direction.
Terrorist sabotage and reconnaissance groups continue to operate in the vicinity of Novotoshkivske – Krymske and Shchastya – Stanytsia Luhanska, supported by intense mortar and artillery unit fire. Also, the command of the Russian-terrorist forces does not cease attempts to make a breakthrough on the right flank of this stretch. All actions by insurgent gang formations are thwarted by ATO forces’ response fire.
Another enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group (up to 15 people) has been identified, during their attempt to infiltrate the tactical rear of Ukrainian troops, by combat outposts of the ATO near Troitske. The enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group made a tactical retreat as a result of the armed confrontation, returning to the territory controlled by terrorists.
There is a growing movement of terrorist formations at the forefront near Hranitne. Also, several fire strikes at positions of Ukrainian troops in the area have been observed (mostly from mortars and small arms) to cover up the regrouping of forces.
East to the Malomykolayivka – Myrne – Uspenka highway, insurgents launched several “combat training centers” and at least two reinforced battalions (one of them – a tank battalion). Large numbers of armored vehicles and artillery have accumulated in the area (up to 25 tanks (T-64 and T-72), 38 armored combat vehicles (various types, including BMP-1, BMP-2, and BMP-97 “Vystrel”), 22 MLRS, 16 cannon artillery guns (mainly D-30 howitzer), and 12 units of self-propelled artillery (howitzers 2S1 “Gvozdika” and 2S3 “Akatsiya”).
During the last 24 hours, we recorded approximately 40 insurgent vehicles moving throughout the occupied area. These were mainly individual cars or small (2-3 vehicles) supply convoys, and in less frequent instances, up to 5 vehicles. Cargo transport was moving the most actively in the vicinity of Luhansk and north of it, as well as from Krasnodon and Sverdlovsk towards Luhansk, Krasnyi Luch, and the Donetsk “hub.”
The following convoys merited particular attention:
– a motor convoy of 12 vehicles between Lutuhyne and Krasnyi Luch. The convoy included several specialized machinery units (one PZM-2 regimental ditching machine, two IRM engineer reconnaissance vehicles, one BAT-2 trail builder, and one E-305 military excavator). The convoy proceeded in the direction of Debaltseve.
– on the Donetsk – Luhansk highway, in the vicinity of Yenakijeve (near the turn to Shakhtarsk), we spotted a convoy of 4 thoroughly tarpaulined trailers (according to our preliminary data, they were transporting TOR-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems), plus three trucks, and an escort of two BTR-80 armored personnel carriers.
Movement of armored vehicles and personnel:
– Four insurgent tanks and two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles were spotted transferring to the area east of the Yasynuvata junction. The armored vehicles took camouflaged positions.
– Mortar details continue transferring to the Spartak area. Terrorists are using motor vehicles en masse: for lateral transportation of their personnel and equipment, as well as to rapidly increase the mobility and maneuverability of their firing groups. The prevailing majority of insurgent firepower with the highest resistance intensity has now been mounted on mobile platforms (mainly on trucks).
– A part of the insurgent armored group that had previously operated between Pervomaisk and Stakhanov has moved in the direction of Donetske and Frunze (the group includes 6 tanks and 6 armored combat vehicles). An insurgent group from Alchevsk (up to 80 personnel, on board of tanks and ACVs) was spotted in the vicinity of Bryanka.
– A terrorist infantry unit was transferred from Starobesheve to the vicinity of Olenivka (a total of up to 50 personnel, with two 120-mm mortars, three trucks, two BTR-80 APCs and two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles).
– The terrorists are rotating their units in a number of areas in the Seaside (Mariupol) sector. Several groups of Russian mercenaries (up to 250 personnel organized in several “units”) arrived [in this sector] from the north and from Russia.
