Operational data from Information Resistance:
Russian-terrorist forces in Donbas continue to refrain from using heavy weapons; however, during the last 24 hours, militants have increasingly used infantry weapons to fire at the ATO forces’ positions and to conduct armed provocations. At the same time, militants have intensified reconnaissance and subversive-terrorist activities. The enemy is increasingly employing land mines, ambushes, raids, raid-like actions in small groups, and sniper groups.
In particular, during the past 24 hours, militants opened heavy fire from small arms in the area of the Donetsk Ring [Kiltseva] Road between the settlements of Opytne and Avdiivka, as well as in the vicinity of Mar’inka and Krasnohorivka. The fire was primarily carried out from the “greenery;” the terrorists also used hand-held grenade launchers (RPGs) and automatic small arms.
The shelling of the ATO forces’ positions from small arms was also recorded in the area between Hranitne and Starohnativka. In addition, enemy observers are actively infiltrating the “greenery” in the neutral zone in this [particular] area.
Over the past 24 hours, militants conducted erratic short-lived fire from 82 mm mortars and AGS-17 grenade launchers on the Svitlodarsk bridgehead, south of Sanzharivka. The militants also fired several shots from AGS-17 between Donetsk Airport and the settlement of Pisky.
In several areas on the stretch from Orikhove to Shchastya, militants heavily fired on the positions of Ukrainian troops using infantry weapons. In addition, sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been active in this area – both those consisting of militants and of Russian Spetsnaz. In particular, a mobile group of the ATO forces that was working to combat the smuggling of goods to the occupied territory was ambushed in the vicinity of Lobacheve. During the ambush, militants deployed roadside bombs along the route of the [Ukrainian] group, and fired from several firing positions (snipers were also “working” here).
In the area of Shchastya, small groups of enemy infantry were also observed in the “greenery”; [these groups] conducted constant monitoring of the front flank of Ukrainian troops.
During the last 24 hours, terrorists in the area between Sokilnyky and Krymske have repeatedly opened heavy fire from automatic rifles and machine guns against the outpost of the ATO forces, operating from the “greenery” in the neutral zone. In the area of Novotoshkivka, militants used anti-tank hand grenades during two firesights (to no avail). In addition, the enemy employed 120 mm mortars in this area.
Maneuvers of militant armored vehicles were observed in the vicinity of Bezimenne, in the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk, in the area between Spartak and Yasynuvata, between Yenakijeve and Horlivka, towards Vuhlehirsk and Debaltseve, and between Shchastya and Stanytsia Luhanska.
The transfer of militants’ armored vehicles continues from Krasnodon to Luhansk, and through Novofedorivka (two tanks, five MT-LBs, six BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, and two BRM-1K combat reconnaissance vehicles, moving in several groups of 2-3 vehicles in each).
In the area of Lomuvatka (south of Bryanka), a regrouping of militant forces was observed, as well as an active movement of vehicles at the front line and deep behind the [militant] lines. A terrorist tank unit was also observed changing position, while APC group (BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles) moved between Kalynove and Sanzharivka .
In several areas, instead of withdrawing heavy weapons, the militants are saturating the front line with artillery. For example, several artillery firing positions emerged simultaneously in the vicinity of Telmanove (to the south as well as north of the settlement), employing 122 mm D-30 and D-30A howitzers, and two batteries of SAU 2S1 “Gvozdika.” Some of these positions are being carefully camouflaged.
