Russian-terrorist forces have taken complete control of the town and the railway junction station of Debaltseve, thus presently creating a kind of “military commandant’s office” in the city. In the direction of Artemivsk (Svetlodarsk – Luhanske), radical enemy units are trying to move in the direction of Luhanske. Ukrainian units that provide a withdrawal of the Debaltseve Ukrainian troop formations, engage in deterrent combat. Also, the enemy began to evacuate disabled and damaged military equipment from the combat fields in the area of Debaltseve (the equipment is evacuated to Horlivka andYenakiieve).
A tactical group of Russian-terrorist forces from the “Horlivka garrison,” reinforced with a company tactical group (staffed by locals, including a large number of young men between 16 and 17 years of age and senior citizens, which are exceedingly poorly equipped and armed), began moving towards the Artemivsk – Debaltseve road north of Lohvynove. Overall, about 240 insurgents participated in the offensive, divided into four groups with armored vehicles provided (up to 10 tanks and 6 AFVs). Ukrainian artillery periodically strikes these groups.
In the area of Novohryhorivka, an “Ural” [cargo truck] carrying local terrorists was blown up on a mine; there are wounded.
During the past few days, the enemy has continued to fire at the positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Pisky, Vodyane, Opytne from mortars and grenade launchers, despite the truce. The village of Mariinka has also been repeatedly shelled with mortars and barrel artillery.
The “DNR police” has detained a group of residents from the Georgian territory occupied by Russia – South Ossetia. Among them are:
1. Chochiev Sarmat Borisovich (according to preliminary data, [he is] the son of the Head of “the Presidential Administration of the Republic of South Ossetia,” B.E. Chochiev);
2. Gabaraev Azamat Kazimirovich;
3. Karsanov Yakov Ivanovich;
4. Dzhioev Alan Hasaybergovich;
5. Kozonov Dmitry Feliksovich.
All these individuals took part in armed confrontations on the territory of Ukraine on the side of gang formations [that are] part of the so-called “DNR.” The reason for detention is – for disobeying instructions of the “DNR” leadership. An alleged location of the detained terrorists from South Ossetia is an insurgent base in Donetsk.
The “DNR” made a decision to create “frontline supply stations.” The main purpose of these stations – is to receive, process, and issue ammunition to the “representatives of detachments.”
Another echelon with ammunition arrived to the Ilovaysk railway station from Russia. Unloading is underway.
Near Makiivka and Horlivka, a radar equipment operation has been observed; they were transferred from Russia along with the service crew from among the military personnel of the Russian Federation. We are talking about a test mode inspection of air defense systems with radar. In addition, a transfer of 2 “Strela-10″ SAMs has been recorded in the area of Shakhtarsk.
The command of the “DNR troops” issued a “strict order” to smuggle the corpses of dead Russian citizens directly to Rostov-on-Don (Russia), without prior registration of death documents and sorting in local mortuaries. Russian specialists engage in the “classification” of bodies of eliminated terrorists and determine their affiliation (local insurgents or Russian citizens) on the territory controlled by the “DNR” and “LNR.” A certain “commercial entity” engages in delivery of corpses to Russia (in fact – [it is] a special unit of the FSB of Russia).
A task force of Russian-terrorist troops that occupies positions behind Yasynuvata junction has received two ACS 2S1 “Grovzika.”
In the seaside direction, the enemy moves reinforcements (up to 100 people and about 7 armored vehicles) to the area north of Novoazovsk. Tactical reserves get moved and the gunfire does not stop near the settlement of Shyrokyne.
Russian-terrorist troop armored vehicles and artillery weapons (over 100-mm caliber) that have been allegedly moved away from the demarcation line near Luhansk dividing [both] sides, previously reported on by the IR group, were simply moved back to an insurgent base south of Luhansk.
The enemy continues to regroup its manpower and vehicles inside the Pervomaisk-Alchevsk ledge. 11 covered cargo trucks and 5 BBMs have been transferred through Krasnodon towards Perevalsk.
