The Russian military command addressed a complaint to the “DNR” [Donetsk People’s Republic] leadership, concerning the latter’s failure to create the “Army of Novorossiya.” According to the version of the representatives of Russia, the task set by the Kremlin – to unite all gangs under a single military command – failed because the “DNR” leadership “lacks political will.”
Meanwhile, desertion and marauding are becoming even bigger problems for the “DNR.” Marauding and armed conflicts between terrorist groups are particularly strong in the areas to the south of Donetsk, where insurgents from various “DNR” gangs and groups fled once those gangs were disbanded.
On the Debaltseve foothold, in the area of Nikishyne and Chornukhyne, Russian-terrorist troops were reinforced by several “newly created” companies of the “Cossack guard.” Insurgents from these formations are dressed in the new winter uniform of Russian standard, well-equipped and well-armed. They have up to 20 armored vehicles at their disposal.
We receive reports of the movement of insurgents’ armored vehicles and self-propelled artillery system in the area of Bakhmut motorway, away from the line of contact with Ukrainian troops and towards areas near Alchevsk and to the west of Luhansk. Damaged equipment is being towed away. A total of up to 30 units have been spotted, including T-72 and T-64 tanks, and “Gvozdika” 2-S1 self-propelled artillery systems.
Insurgents in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska, following preliminary shelling, tried to move to a number of positions in the “buffer zone.” However, they were met with dense small arms fire of Ukrainian units, and fell back to their original positions.
A clash took place to the north of Novoazovsk, where pro-Ukrainian guerrilla fighters attacked a communication center of Russian troops. The enemy incurred losses. This attack caused significant uproar in the ranks of Russian-terrorist troops, who were not expecting guerrilla action in this area.
A composite company task group of Russian troops acting near Telmanove, reinforced by an artillery battalion, moved to the first line in the area of Hranitne again. Earlier, as was reported by the IR group, this unit incurred losses from Ukrainian artillery strikes and withdrew further behind its lines.
At a closed meeting presided by the head of the “LNR” [Luhansk People’s Republic] Ihor Plotnitsky, the “LNR counter-intelligence” warned about the possibility of “hunger riots” among the local population. The insurgent “counter-intelligence operatives” believe that the situation is further exacerbated by the “lack of transparency” in the distribution of “humanitarian aid” arriving from Russia.
Store in Donetsk: beer and potatoes basics. Photo: Novorossiya PR
Photo: Novorossiya PR
