Civil war in Ukraine: News & discussion

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1760981-...rrages-reported-in-all-sectors-on-sunday.html

"Avdiyivka where repair teams have been working to resume the supply wasn't an exception. The occupiers used tanks, 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms to repeatedly attack Ukrainian positions there," the ATO HQ said. Other areas in the Donetsk sector were also under fire. In particular, tanks attacked the villages of Kamyanka and Pisky, which is close to the ruined Donetsk airport. Mortars of various calibers, grenade launchers and small arms were used to fire on the villages of Zaitseve, Opytne, and Luhanske. A sniper was active in the village of Nevelske.


The hot spots in the Mariupol sector were the town of Krasnohorivka and the villages of Vodiane, Shyrokyne and Hnutovo, which came under mortar fire. Grenade launchers and small arms were used to fire on the towns of Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, the villages of Lebedynske and Novotroyitske.

In the Luhansk sector, 120mm and 82mm mortars were used to shell the village of Katerynivka, while grenade launchers and small arms were engaged to fire on the village of Krymske. What is more, the latter was repeatedly attacked by infantry fighting vehicles. The village of Zhovte came under sniper fire. The total number of the attacks registered as of 18:00 local time on February 5 was 40, and one Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action, the ATO HQ said.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1761532-...d-94-militant-attacks-5-wias-in-last-day.html
The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 94 times in the past 24 hours with five wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.


In the Mariupol sector, Russia's hybrid military forces used banned 152mm and 122mm artillery systems to shell the villages of Berdianske, Lebedynske and Talakivka. The towns of Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Pavlopil, Vodiane, Shyrokyne, and Hnutove came under mortar fire. They also used rocket-propelled grenades and small arms to fire on Krasnohorivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Lebedynske and Novotroyitske. Snipers were active in Hnutove and Pavlopil. Additionally, Shyrokyne and Krasnohorivka were attacked by infantry fighting vehicles and tanks.


In the Luhansk sector, the occupiers shelled mortars on the town of Popasna, and the villages of Katerynivka and Novozvanivka, as well as rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the villages of Krymske, Novo-Oleksandrivka and Troyitske.

Furthermore, the villages of Krymske and Zhovte were under sniper fire. In the Donetsk sector, enemy troops repeatedly opened fire from tanks, 120mm and 82mm mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Pisky, Kamianka, Zaitseve, Opytne, Novhorodske, Zalizne, and Luhanske. Nevelske was under sniper fire, and Luhanske was attacked by infantry fighting vehicles. "Five Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action, one got injuries," the ATO HQ said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/401222.html
The restoration of a power line, which has been damaged in the shelling, is over in the town of Avdiyivka, Donetsk region, which is situated on the contact line between the conflicting parties in Donbas and hit in the gunfire, Ukrainian president's spokesperson Sviatoslav Tseholko said.

At the same time, he refers to the data provided by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Public Utilities Hennadiy Zubko.

"The repair brigades have finally completed restoration of the power line up to Avdiyivka. Zubko reported about this to the president [Petro Poroshenko]. Ukrainian electricians together with State Emergencies Service's pyrotechnicians have just come back from the site of repair. The next stage - connection to the transformer substations - began," Tseholko posted on his Facebook page on Sunday.

As of noon, on February 5, Avdiyivka is provided with the minimal temperature of the heat transfer medium in the heating network, the air temperature of 18-20 degrees Celsius is being maintained in the flats, but the electricity is cut off there, the State Emergency Situations Service said.

A 200 kW power generator has been put into operation in order to deliver the fresh water from a tank at the pumping station since February 1; extra fresh water supplies are provided for people. Furthermore, 24 electric-powered generators (of which seven are back-ups) were applied for socially vital facilities, namely elderly homes, central town hospital, railway hospital, treasury, town administration, Ukrtelecom mobile operator, sewage and pumping station, tent camp, police station and other facilities.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/401383.html
U.S. Vice President Michael Pence has declared that Washington is alarmed by the growing violence in the east of Ukraine.

"We're watching and very troubled by the increased hostilities," Pence told ABC.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Washington will make efforts to ensure peace in the Russian-Ukrainian border.

We will work with Ukraine and Russia and all interested parties to help them restore peace along the border, Trump said in a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, says a message released by the White House.

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15:31
Six Ukrainian soldiers injured in Donbas in past 24 hours - Kyiv official

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=732757
KYIV/LUHANSK. Feb 6 (Interfax) - Positions of Ukrainian troops were shelled 94 times leaving six servicemen injured in the Donbas conflict area in the past 24 hours, the press service of the Ukrainian military operational headquarters said.

"Five of our soldiers were injured and one traumatized," the Ukrainian headquarters said on its Facebook page early on Monday.

In the Mariupol sector, 152mm and 122mm artillery systems shelled Berdyanske, Lebedinske, and Talakivka. Troitske, Krasnohorivka, Pavlopil, Maryinka, Vodiane, Shyrokyne and Hnutove were shelled by mortars, it said. Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Lebedinske, and Novotroitske came under fire from grenade launchers and small arms. Snipers fired on Hnutove and Pavlopil. An infantry fighting vehicle and a tank opened fire on Shyrokyne and Krasnohorivka, the headquarters said.

In the Luhansk sector, Kyiv's adversary used mortars to shell Katerynivka, Popasna, and Novozvanivka. Militias fired grenade launchers and small arms against Ukrainian positions in Krymske, Nova Oleksandrivka, and Troitske. Snipers opened fire on Krymske and Zhovte, it said.

In the Donetsk sector, Kyiv registered fire from tanks, 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, and small arms, which were used against Ukrainian positions near Pisky, Avdiivka, Kamenka, Zaitseve, Opytne, Novhorodske, Zalizne and Luhanske. A sniper fired on Nevelske, and an infantry fighting vehicle on Luhanske.

The Kyiv-appointed Luhansk military-civil administration revealed that militias of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) opened fire near the line of separation 12 times in the past 24 hours. As a result, one Ukrainian serviceman was injured, it said.

"Last night, a Ukrainian serviceman was injured as a result of shelling from automatic and anti-tank grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and small arms near the village of Novooleksandrivka in the Popasna district. Fire was opened along the line of separation 12 times in the past 24 hours," the Luhansk military-civil administration said in a statement published in Facebook on Monday.

The militias opened fire five times, using 82mm mortars, automatic and anti-tank grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and small arms against Ukrainian positions near Popasna and the villages of Katerynivka, Troitske and Novozvanivka, the administration said.

Kyiv's adversary fired 82mm mortars, automatic and antitank grenade launchers, large-caliber machineguns and small arms seven times in the past 24 hours, as well as weapons mounted on fighting infantry vehicles, trying to hit the villages of Krymske and Lopaskyne in the Luhansk region's Novoaidar district, it said.

Meanwhile, the People's Militia of the LPR reported two instances of shelling by the Ukrainian side of the republic's territory.

"Ukrainian forces twice violated the ceasefire regime in the past 24 hours, using 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms," the LPR People's Militia told Interfax on Monday.

Positions of the LPR People's Militia were shelled by the Ukrainian side near Kalynivka and Zhovte, the LPR forces headquarters said.


14:49
Ukrainians launch 1,229 attacks, kill two militiamen in past 24 hours - DPR

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1762462-...l-76-downed-by-donbas-terrorists-in-2014.html

Ukraine's SBU Security Service has released audio tapes used as evidence in a criminal case against chief of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic ("LPR") Igor Plotnitsky and two commanders of illegal armed formations in occupied Donbas, who are charged with the downing of a Ukrainian Il-76 military transport plane in 2014.


"SBU investigators have received clear proof that "LPR" chief Plotnitsky, who at the time of the crime was commander of the Zarya illegal armed formation, together with [Andrey] Patrushev (Plotnitsky's deputy at the moment) and commander of the Vityaz illegal armed formation [Alexander] Gureyev were the mastermind behind the terrorist act,"

the SBU said on Monday. With the aim of blocking Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) troops, the men set up ambushes and managed terrorists groups armed with portable ground-to-air missiles near Luhansk airport.

The SBU made public the audio recordings of conversations between Plotnitsky and Patrushev, in which the latter says: "Two planes have approached [the airport] … one has been downed, the other has landed." The other tape has Gureyev saying: "We've hit the Il-76. It must be loaded and sent for recycling as scrap metal."


The plane was downed in June 2014 when landing at Luhansk airport. Nine crew members and 40 Ukrainian soldiers aboard were killed in the terrorist act. Dnipro region's prosecutors are seeking the conviction of Plotnitsky and the commanders of two illegal military formations for shooting down the plane.

They are charged with committing an act of terrorism under Part 3 of Article 258 of Ukraine's Criminal Code. The pretrial investigation into the case is over.

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03 february 2017
Military doctors of the Dnipro city military hospital provide treatment to wounded and injured Ukrainian servicemen.

Since the beginning of this year the medical staff has provided care to more than 50 wounded servicemen as hospital head says.

Medical teams have evacuated more than 20 soldiers since the escalation of the conflict. Then the patients were transported to military hospitals in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa.

Dnipro military hospital has essential drugs, medical equipment and supplies.

http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/...st-of-ukraine-as-of-morning-february-06-2017/
Monday, February 06. DONBAS — According to the press centre of the ‘anti-terror’ operation (ATO) HQ, the enemy has violated the ceasefire for 94 times over the past 24 hours. Five Ukrainian soldiers are WIA, one is injured.

The enemy used 152 mm and 122 mm artillery against Berdyanske, Lebedynske and Talakivka, mortars against Troitske, Krasnohorivka, Pavlopil, Marinka, Vodyane, Shyrokyne, and Hnutove, grenade launchers and small arms against Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Lebedynske, and Novotroitske, BMP and tank against Shyrokyne and Krasnohorivka. Snipers targeted Hnutove and Pavlopil.

Militants fired mortars on Katerynivka, Popasna, Novozvanivka, grenade launchers and small arms on Krymske, Novooleksandrivka, and Troitske. Enemy’s snipers targeted the Ukrainian positions near Krymske and Zhovte.

Occupants shelled Pisky, Avdiivka, Kamyanka, Zaitseve, Opytne, Novhorodske, Zalizne, and Luhanske with 120 and 82 mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms, Luhanske with BMP. An enemy’s sniper targeted Nevelske.

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“This night was rather calm amid shelling. The enemy still violates the Minsk agreements using heavy weaponry such as 120 mm mortars and tank. They provoke us for intensification of combat actions”, LTC Oleksandr Samarskyi, Deputy Commander of 72nd Brigade defending Avdiivka, said.

“We do not respond understanding that these actions are provocative. If necessary, we respond but use only weapons which are not banned by the Minsk agreements”, the officer stressed. “Amid some ceasefire, I can’t say the situation has been stabilized. Maybe the reason is repair of power lines and power sub-stations. Generally, Avdiivka revives after last hostilities”.

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Since weekend, Avdiivka is under deadly artillery and mortar attacks. Currently, there are a lot of UXOs which are dangerous for citizens and furthermore, they are forbidden by the Minsk agreements such as 120, 122, 152 mm shells.

Ukraine’s army EOD teams are demining residential quarters of Avdiivka.

“Military have provided meal for more than 1,000 citizens. We are waiting for all people in need”, Col. Mykola Kuklyuk, Deputy Chief of ATO for Logistics, said.

This morning servicemen have deployed 10 field kitchens to support local citizens and have enough food products and wood for heating and cooking.

 

[Hindustani78]

“The Ukrainian servicemen are deploying 10 field kitchens to support local citizens”, Col. Mykola Kuklyuk, Deputy Chief of ATO for Logistics, said.

The officer stressed that servicemen had enough food products and wood for heating and cooking.

“We emphasize that the Ukrainian army is always ready to help local population!” Col. Kuklyuk stated.

 

[Hindustani78]

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1763646-ukraine-reports-78-militant-attacks-1-wia-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 78 times in the past 24 hours with one wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

The town of Avdiyivka in the Donetsk sector saw barrages from banned 152mm artillery systems, 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. Ukrainian positions there were also attacked by tanks. The villages of Troyitske, Verkhniotoretske, Kamianka, Luhanske, Opytne, and Zaitseve also came under mortar fire.


In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers used banned 122mm artillery systems, grenade launchers and mortars of various calibers to shell the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Bohdanivka, Novohryhorivka, Lebedynske, Vodiane, Hnutove, and Shyrokyne. Furthermore, they used tanks to attack Shyrokyne, while infantry fighting vehicles attacked Maryinka.

What is more, heavy machine guns were used to fire on the village of Novotroyitske. In the Luhansk sector, the occupation forces repeatedly fired banned 122mm artillery systems on the village of Krymske, as well as mortars and grenades on Krymske and the village of Zhovte.

Additionally, the village of Novozvanivka was attacked by a tank. "One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action," the ATO HQ said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/401717.html
Ukraine's SBU Security Service has learned about the illegal acquisition of land belonging to the state-owned Chornomorsk seaport (formerly the port of Illichivsk).

"Law-enforcement officials established that the company illegal rented a small plot of land located on the territory of the enterprise. Later, with the "acquiescence" of Chernomorsk officials, the businessmen began building a facility for offloading grain. Some three hectares of the port was illegally rented to facilitate same. Individuals degraded production facilities at the seaport for handling cargo, which, in turn, prevented it from working at full capacity and making budget payments. According to experts, the cost of the illegal land plot rentals is about $4 million," SBU's press center said on Tuesday.

During the pretrial investigation SBU agents documented numerous instances when the businessmen transferred assets to various funds, some opened by local state enterprises and self-government rule bodies, which supported their activities. Bureaucrats then under the guise of defending "foreign investments" blocked work of law-enforcement organs attempting to check illegal construction at the seaport.

"SBU agents established that the real owners of the commercial company registered in Europe were citizens of Russia and Georgia," the press release says.

A criminal case has been opened based on Part 1 and 3 of Article 197-1 and Part 2 of Article 364-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Two members of the commercial enterprise have been given indicted.

"The businessmen evade any contacts with investigators and are hiding from the justice system. According to information from special law-enforcement agencies, the men used their European office to minimize payments to the Ukrainian budget and laundered a portion of their profits into the shadow economy. The investigation continues," the SBU's press center said.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/401721.html
In recent years the Russian Federation has intensified the transfer of military equipment, weapons and soldiers in the territory of the occupied part of Donbas, Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov has said.

"A large number of military vehicles, tanks, multiple launch rocket systems, etc. is delivered through the uncontrolled area of Ukrainian-Russian border from the territory of the Russian Federation," he said.

According to him, military equipment, weapons, armaments, munitions, fuel and lubricants are imported systematically and in an orderly manner almost every day "both by motorways and railway."

Turchynov noted that over the last three days only, a significant number of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, light multi-purpose armored towing vehicles, Grad MLRSs, Pion 2S7 (203 mm) and Giatsint 2A36 (152 mm) self-propelled guns were relocated from the Russian Federation to Donbas.

"Reinforcement is provided for Russian hybrid troops deployed all along the delimitation line," he said adding that undisguised recruitment of contractors to participate in hostilities in the east of Ukraine is conducted in Russian military commissariats.

"All this may indicate at Russia's readiness for further escalation of hostilities in Donbas," the secretary of the NSDC said adding that Russia will not be able to hide its bloody acts of aggression against Ukraine from the international community.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/401725.html
At a meeting of the permanent commission of the Kyiv City Council on issues of urban planning, architecture and land use MPs agreed on the termination of the lease contract directly for the three sites provided to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, the press service of Kyiv City Council said.

"These plots of land were granted for the use of 49 years to the Russian Federation in 1998. For one hryvnia rent per year the Muscovites had the right to build a new embassy, a consulate and a residence of the ambassador, or sublease it, mortgage at banks or even sell. Fortunately, over 17-years of their use they didn't have time to use this right, so we can break the leases," the press service of the City Council cites the subject of the submission of the relevant decisions, the city council deputy, Ihor Miroshnychenko.

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According to the ATO HQ press centre, yesterday evening, about 09:00 p.m. the Russian occupational troops shelled Kurdyumivka (Donetsk oblast). Occupants fired 20 artillery shells killing a 15-year-old boy.

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15:30
Active phase of NATO drills begins in Black Sea

15:27
Peskov refers question about U.S. drone seen flying above Donbas contact line to Defense Ministry (Part 2)

15:59
There are signs of Ukrainian army's preparations for offensive - DPR head

Bakhmut Ukraine

 

[Hindustani78]

"Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR") Mikhail Tolstykh, nom-de-guerre Givi, is reported to have been eliminated in the occupied city of Donetsk, according to militant resources.
https://www.unian.info/war/1765896-...eportedly-eliminated-in-occupied-donetsk.html

They cite the "operational command" of the "DPR," which reported that it had happened "as a result of a terrorist attack."

"At 06:12 on Wednesday, as a result of a terrorist act, the commander of the 'Somali' battalion, Colonel Mikhail Tolstykh, aka Givi, was killed," the report said.


Currently, an "investigation team" is working on the scene. Former "Defense Minister" of the "DPR" Igor Girkin, nom de guerre Strelkov, claims Givi's office in Donetsk was blown up.

"Supposedly, Givi's office was blown up together with the owner. Presumably, it was hit by a shell of the RPO-A Shmel [man-portable rocket launcher]," Strelkov wrote on his page on the Russian social media website, VKontakte.
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https://www.unian.info/war/1766066-...-90-attacks-in-donbas-3-wias-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 89 times in the past 24 hours with three Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Donetsk sector, the Russian occupation forces used 152mm and 122mm artillery systems to shell the village of Luhanske. Mortars of various calibers, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms were used to fire on the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Opytne, Troyitske, Kamianka, Pisky, Pivdenne, Luhanske, Nevelske, Zaitseve, Verkhniotoretske, and Novhorodske. Our positions near Avdiyivka were also attacked by a tank. Further, Luhanske and Verkhniotoretske were attacked by infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs)," the report says.


Enemy troops in the Mariupol sector used artillery systems and mortars to shell the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Talakivka, Chermalyk, and Hnutove. They also fired mortars on the village of Novotroyitske, as well as rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the villages of Vodiane, Pavlopil, Lebedynske, Shyrokyne, and Berezove. Enemy IFVs attacked Pavlopil. Maryinka was under sniper fire.

In the Luhansk sector, the occupiers opened fire on the Ukrainian positions near the village of Krymske, using banned 122mm artillery systems. They also used mortars to shell the town of Popasna, and the villages of Troyitske, Krymske and Novozvanivka. Rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and small arms were used to fire on the villages of Novozvanivka and Novo-Oleksandrivka. The village of Novotoshkivske was attacked by IFVs.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/401991.html
The National Police of Ukraine has said the explosive device that killed journalist Pavel Sheremet contained an anti-personnel mine.

"Taking this into account it is possible to establish the contents of the explosive device. In addition, the blueprint for the location of the device and its location in the automobile," said the head of the National Police's investigation department Oleksandr Vakulenko at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.

Vakulenko said the bomb contained a MON-50 anti-personnel mine, two firing pins and an electric detonator.

Several experiments using a car and copies of the explosive device bear out the preliminary conclusions of the investigation. Vakulenko said nine of the 16 forensic analyses have been carried out.

Well-known Belarusian journalist Pavel Sheremet was killed on July 20, 2016 in the center of Kyiv when his automobile exploded. The car belonged to his companion Olena Prytula, the co-founder of the Kyiv-based Ukrayinska Pravda news website. Police have said the main motive for Sheremet's murder was his journalist activities.

Ukrainian prosecutors have said several individuals are suspects in their investigation. They say the perpetrator did not act alone.

Young pilots of tactical aviation brigade of ‘Centre’ Air Force Command (Poltava) perform training flights.

Success of air combat depends on many factors including such as theoretical and practical knowledge and staff professionalism.

“A fighter pilot perfectly knowing the tactics of air battle have more chances to win it and defeat an enemy”, brigade commander stresses.

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15:12
DPR declares mourning for Givi, he will be buried on Friday

12:48
Ukrainian security service checking info on DPR battalion leader death

12:06
BATTALION COMMANDER MIKHAIL TOLSTYKH, AKA GIVI, KILLED IN SHMEL FLAMETHROWER ATTACK - COMMAND

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1769861-russian-drone-downed-in-ato-zone-in-donbas.html

The Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine report they have shot down a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle in the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation near the demarcation line February 8.

"At about 19:00 February 8 an unmanned aerial vehicle was spotted in the sky close to the contact line. After the identification of the object, having received confirmation that the flying object does not belong to the ATO forces or international organizations that monitor the situation near the contact line with their unmanned aerial fleet, it was decided to destroy it," the press center of the ATO Headquarters wrote on Facebook on Thursday, February 9.

The press center noted that the UAV was shot down from small arms. The experts are now examining the drone.

At the moment, the relevant experts are working with it. According to preliminary data, the same type of UAVs is used by the armed forces of the Russian Federation," the report reads.

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https://www.unian.info/war/1768156-...rces-attack-ukraine-82-times-in-last-day.html
Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 82 times in the past 24 hours, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Donetsk sector, the occupation forces used banned 152mm artillery systems to shell the village of Luhanske. Mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms were used to fire on the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Nevelske, Verkhniotoretske, Kamianka, Opytne, Pisky, Troyitske, Luhanske, Myronivske, and Zaitseve. Luhanske and Avdiyivka were also attacked by tanks.


In the Luhansk sector, proscribed 152mm and 122mm artillery systems were used to shell the villages of Novotoshkivske and Krymske. The village of Malynove came under mortar fire, while grenade launchers and small arms were fired on the town of Popasna, and the villages of Katerynivka, Krymske, Novozvanivka, Zhovte, and Novo-Oleksandrivka.

Additionally, Novozvanivka was attacked by enemy infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers opened fire from 152mm and 122mm artillery systems on the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Lebedynske and Shyrokyne. Furthermore, they used mortars to shell the villages of Shyrokyne and Hnutove. Grenade launchers and small arms were used to fire on the villages of Lebedynske, Vodiane, Pavlopil, Shyrokyne, and Hnutove.

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http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/402275.html
NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller has said that the escalation of fighting in the east of Ukraine last week was the worst in the past two years and should not be accepted as normal.

"We are deeply concerned by the recent spike in violence. The ceasefire has been violated almost every day for the last two years. But last week, the OSCE, the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, registered over 10,000 ceasefire violations in a single day. Including with heavy equipment banned under the Minsk Agreements. We have seen the heaviest fighting in the past two years. We must not accept this as the 'new normal'," Gottemoeller said at a press conference after a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman in Brussels on Thursday.

She stressed NATO does not, and will not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and condemns Russia's continuing destabilization of eastern Ukraine.

"Russia has a special responsibility in this regard," the NATO deputy secretary general said.

Gottemoeller said she chaired a special meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission on February 8, which addressed the latest facts on the ground. Every single Ally took the floor to express strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, she added.

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Despite ceasefire agreements reached by the Trilateral Contact Group on February 1, militants continue attacks against Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) headquarters reported.

"As of 3 p.m., hostiles had carried out 34 attacks against Ukrainian troops' positions with the use of a vast range of available weapons, including ones forbidden by the Minsk Agreements," the press center of the ATO headquarters said in a statement published on Thursday afternoon.

It said that hostiles demonstrated the most vigorous activity in the Donetsk sector in Luhanske, Zaitseve, Opytne, Pisky, the Butivka mine and Verkhniotoretske populated areas.

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http://www.mil.gov.ua/en/news/2017/...”-and-for-us-you-are-a-bright-and-brave-army/

President Petro Poroshenko awarded servicemen of the Armed Forces and officials of the State Emergency Service who had proved themselves defending Avdiivka.

The Head of State thanked warriors of the 72nd mechanized brigade for their courage and heroism demonstrated in the protection of Avdiivka from Russian terrorist troops and brave rescuers who have been doing everything possible to help local residents.

The President noted that the enemy — Russian terrorist troops — had gone on the offensive to capture the industrial area of Avdiivka after shelling. He called their actions another provocation aimed to transfer responsibility and condemn the Ukrainian side of violating the ceasefire.

“But the whole world saw the Ukrainian Armed Forces created in the last 2.5 years,” Petro Poroshenko said.

According to him, the 72nd mechanized brigade had proved its name of one of the most powerful brigades of the Land Forces of Ukraine called the “Black Brigade” by the enemies in 2014 due to its successful military operations in the area of hostilities.

“This means the enemy fears the ‘Black Brigade’ and knows that it will not advance any further in the area of the 72nd brigade. For them you are the ‘Black brigade’ and for us you are a bright and brave army,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized.

The President also awarded the officials of the State Emergency Service who had saved the town from the humanitarian disaster.

The attendees honoured memory of the fallen warriors with a moment of silence.

According to the President, his team is doing everything for the situation to move towards de-escalation and full ceasefire: “Proper conditions for our diplomats are being created by you: commanders and ordinary soldiers who reinforce Ukrainian positions with their courage and heroism at the negotiations, arm us with arguments sufficient for withstanding our national interests firmly”.

Press Service of the President of Ukraine

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Look at these pictures: in Avdiivka the enemy used weaponry banned by the Minsk agreements such as Grad and Uragan, 152 mm and 120 mm artillery (more than 2,000 shells and mines), even over 200 mm calibre.

Now soldiers repair damages buildings and equipment, help local population and equip their positions. Fragile truce can be derailed and they have to be ready.

*******

According to the ATO HQ press centre, today, February 9, the Russian occupational troops have kept on shelling and damaged a power substation in Mariupol direction. Chermalyk, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Talakivka, Vodyane, Lebedynske, and Sartana are without power supply. Mariupol gas distribution plant is cut off current, too.

The repair works are carried out. Power supply will be resumed in several hours.

********

According to the ATO HQ press centre, despite agreements of trilateral contact group on ceasefire along the whole contact line since the midnight February 09, Russian occupational troops keep on shelling.

As of 03:00 p.m. the enemy has performed 34 attacks against the Ukrainian positions using different weapons, including the weaponry banned by the Minsk agreements.

The tensest situation is near Luhanske, Zaitseve, Opytne, Pisky, Butivka Mine, and Verkhnye Toretske.

The Ukrainian soldiers strictly observe the ceasefire and do not respond to attacks.

********

22:07
Battalion commander Tolstykh's murder disrupts Minsk Agreements - Zakharchenko

21:14
Ukrainian troops shoot down drone over Donbas

18:28
Ukrainian military report attacks in country's east

18:13
Ukrainian Defense Ministry sees no logic in suspicions of Ukrainian saboteurs' involvement in organization of 'Givi' killing

18:11
Three DPR servicemen killed in Ukrainian army shelling in past 24 hrs - Basurin

17:21
DPR sees Kyiv court decision ordering Zakharchenko detention as breach of Minsk Agreements

DONETSK. Feb 9 (Interfax) - The military prosecutors of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) has tracked down the perpetrators of the killing of militiaman Givi, DPR Defense Ministry official Eduard Basurin told reporters on Thursday.

"The military prosecutor opened a criminal case on the basis of the article dealing with terrorism, tracked down the perpetrators, and found the place from where the shot was fired," Basurin said.

Mikhail Tolstykh, commander of the Somali battalion (nicknamed Givi), was killed in his office in the morning of February 8. A Shmel rocket-propelled flamethrower was used to kill him. The DPR State Security Ministry has accused the Ukrainian special services of organizing the Tolstykh killing. Ukrainian Defense Ministry official Oleksandr Motuzyanik has denied the accusations of Ukrainian saboteurs' involvement in the Givi killing.


14:34
Kyiv observes over 80 ceasefire violations in past 24 hours

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1770397-ukraine-reports-61-enemy-attacks-in-donbas-in-last-day.html

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 61 times in the past 24 hours, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

In the Donetsk sector, the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Luhanske, Troyitske, and Verkhniotoretske came under mortar fire, while grenade launchers and small arms were used to fire on Avdiyivka, and the villages of Zaitseve, Opytne, and Pisky.

Further, Ukrainian positions near Avdiyivka were attacked by enemy infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). In the Luhansk sector, the Russian occupation forces used mortars, grenade launchers and small arms to attack the villages of Shariv Kut, Lobacheve, Novo-Oleksandrivka, and Novozvanivka. Additionally, the village of Vodiane came under fire from IFVs.

In the Mariupol sector, the enemy lobbed mortar shells onto the villages of Vodiane and Pavlopil. Grenade launchers and small arms were used to fire on the town of Maryinka, and the villages of Pavlopil, Novotroyitske, Shyrokyne, Hnutove, Lebedynske, and Vodiane. Furthermore, IFVs attacked the Ukrainian positions near Shyrokyne. There were no casualties among Ukrainian troops, the ATO HQ said.

*********
https://www.unian.info/war/1771371-ukraine-defense-spokesman-army-ready-to-fight-back.html
"The situation in Avdiyivka is uneasy. However, it is completely controlled by the AFU and the local authorities. The soldiers are in their positions and ready to repel the enemy in case of any offensive," Defense Ministry speaker for Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday, February 10.

"I would also note a threat of an offensive exists not only in Avdiyivka. It can happen along the entire contact line in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone. Our task is to beef up our defense, observation posts, and be ready to repel the enemy," he said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 61 times in the past 24 hours.

*********

Moscow is trying to share with Kyiv its responsibility for the escalation in Donbas; however, the Ukrainian army in Avdiyivka are on forced defensive, which is confirmed by NATO satellite imagery and intercepted communication of the militants, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Friday during his working trip to Ivano-Frankivsk region, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

"Kyiv has and will comply with Minsk Agreements. Now, on the path to peace and restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, this approach has absolutely no alternative. This is our view, also shared by our key partners who have been helping Ukraine to effectively resist Russian aggression in these difficult conditions," Poroshenko said.

"Do not believe [rumors] that supposedly our [troops] are not allowed to return fire. When there is a real need to do so, when there is no other way, the necessary orders have already been received and are being executed flawlessly. It was clearly evident around Avdiyivka," said the president.

"At the same time, I reject any attempt to put on Ukraine the responsibility for the escalation along the frontline. There is Moscow’s insidious tactic – to divide it [responsibility] between Moscow and Kyiv. We will not allow them to do so. Undoubtedly, our actions have a nature of forced defense; they were just a ‘medication’ from those aggressive tantrums the Russian-terrorist groups had thrown. We can prove this claim to anyone: [we have] communication between militants, intercepted by our intelligence; this can be seen on satellite imagery, which is at the disposal of our partners in NATO; the time the attacks began and the location of launch sites have been recorded by counter-battery radars, which we had received from the United States," said the head of state. In addition, Poroshenko stressed Ukraine’s efforts toward de-escalation down to a complete ceasefire.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian troops and Russian-controlled militants in Donbas between January 29 and February 5 shelled Avdiyivka massively, using heavy artillery and Grad MLR systems, as well as tanks.

Several civilians were killed in the shelling. Furthermore, the situation worsened along the entire frontline. A total of 15 Ukrainian soldiers and one rescuer have been killed on the Donetsk line since January 29.

*******
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/402556.html
Ukrainian troops have "counterattacked in Avdiyivka" and improved their positions on the approaches to Donetsk, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

"They attacked us because they wanted to push Ukrainian troops out of the Avdiyivka industrial zone... During clashes in the Avdiyivka area Russian troops used all kinds of artillery, multiple rocket launchers, mortars, tanks, other types of weapons strictly prohibited by the Minsk agreements," Poroshenko said during a trip to Ivano-Frankivsk on Friday.

"Moreover, as a result of the enemy attack, our military, our heroes counterattacked and improved our positions on the site that has become key on the approaches to the occupied Donetsk," Poroshenko said.

At the same time, 15 Ukrainian troops and one rescuer have died in the Donetsk sector since January 29, he said.

"Kyiv did and will observe the Minsk agreements," the Ukrainian president said.

"Now, on the road to peace and to restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine, such an approach has absolutely no alternative. So we think, and such is the opinion of our key partners too," Poroshenko said.

**********************
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/402547.html

During shelling of Avdiyivka in the Donetsk region by Russian occupation forces at the end of January and start of February more than 300 private houses were damaged and the city was without heat and water for almost two weeks, First Verkhovna Rada Deputy Speaker and representative to the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Iryna Gerashchenko has said.

"It is minus 12 C today. Avdiyivka is slowly emerging from the horror of it all and repair work is underway," Gerashchenko wrote on her Facebook page on Friday. She added that the city continues to receive construction materials from various regions in Ukraine.

Gerashchenko visited Avdiyivka with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius and Lithuanian Ambassador to Ukraine Volodymyr Yatsenkivsky, as well as parliament Poroshenko Bloc faction deputy Iryna Lutsenko.

"It's important that the EU representatives see with their own eyes and are convinced of the horrors of war waged by Russians against Ukraine. Linkevicius during the spring of 2016 was in Shyrokyne, and the minister can tell his colleagues, EU foreign ministers, what he has seen. This is evidence, this is first-hand information that is invaluable in the discussion about sanctions. The truth should be told to EU states and NATO member states," she said.

Visiting School No. 3 in Avdiyivka, Gerashchenko said, "The children drew a big heart [for Linkevicius] to pass on to Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite – with the words, 'with love from Ukraine.'"

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1772447-...donbas-militants-attack-ukraine-63-times.html

The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 63 times in the past 24 hours, according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.


In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers fired grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms on the villages of Hnutove, Pavlopil, Shyrokyne and Vodiane, the headquarters said. "The Russian occupation forces used Grad MLR systems, tanks and mortars of various calibers to attack our positions near the town of Krasnohorivka," the report says.


In the Donetsk sector, the militants opened fire from 120mm mortars on the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Nevelske and Opytne, as well as rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the villages of Novhorodske, Nevelske, Luhanske and Zaitseve.

Additionally, enemy snipers were active near Avdiyivka, and the villages of Luhanske and Verkhniotoretske. In the Luhansk sector, the village of Krymske came under mortar fire, while rocket-propelled grenades and small arms were used to fire on the village of Novozvanivka. There were no casualties among Ukrainian troops, the ATO HQ said.

*************

The mission of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has delivered more than 130 tonnes of humanitarian aid to residents of the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region.

According to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, eight trucks of the ICRC Mission drove through the Novotroyitske entry and exit checkpoint toward the uncontrolled areas.


The vehicles transported medicines and building materials to a total weight of almost 130 tonnes to residents of Donetsk region.

 

[Hindustani78]

**********
The town of Avdiyivka, which has repeatedly come under fire by Russia's hybrid military force, has undergone repairs, and local residents' life is getting back to normal.

 

[Hindustani78]

Former "Defense Minister" of the "DPR" Igor Girkin, nom de guerre Strelkov, claims Givi's office in Donetsk was blown up. "Supposedly, Givi's office was blown up together with the owner. Presumably, it was hit by a shell of the RPO-A Shmel [man-portable rocket launcher]," Strelkov wrote on his page on the Russian social media website, VKontakte.

18:14
Ukrainian antiaircraft missile units to hold over 100 drills in 2017 - defense ministry

18:42
Number of Donbas ceasefire violations unacceptable - OSCE mission

18:28
Nine killed, over 40 injured in Donbas from Jan 29 to Feb 9 - OSCE mission

16:58
DPR reports almost 440 Ukrainian shell attacks in past 24 hours

16:32
LPR reports 15 Ukrainian shellings in past 24 hours (Part 2)

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1773061-ato-hq-daily-report-59-militant-attacks-2-wia.html

Over the past day, Shyrokine and Krasnohorivka were fired on from the enemy infantry fighting vehicles, the Staff of the Anti-Terrorist Operation Forces reported.

On the Mariupol line, militants mortared the positions of the Ukrainian forces in the area of Krasnohorivka and Pavlopil, the report reads.

Grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms were fired on Novotroitske, Hnutove, Pavlopil, Shyrokine, Lebedynske, and Vodiane, Shyrokine and Krasnohorivka were fired on from the enemy IFVs, according to the ATO Headquarters.


On the Donetsk line, militants shelled Kamenka, Zaitseve, Avdiyivka, Pisky, and Novoselivka Druha from mortars of various calibers. At the same time, rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns and small arms were used against Zaitseve, Pisky, Avdiyivka, Opytne, and Troitske. The positions of the Ukrainian troops near Luhanske were engaged by an enemy sniper. A total of 59 attacks was recorded. Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action.

 

[JustHappened]

US military equipment heading toward Ukraine from Slovakia. Credits to CTO

 

[Hindustani78]

Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 67 times in the past 24 hours with one wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters. 10:00, 13 February 2017

https://www.unian.info/war/1773792-ukraine-reports-67-militant-attacks-1-wia-in-last-day.html

In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers fired mortars of various calibers on the villages of Pavlopil and Novotroyitske, and the town of Krasnohorivka. "The militants used rocket-propelled grenades and small arms shooting on the villages of Pavlopil, Novotroyitske, Hnutove, Novohryhorivka, Chermalyk, Mykolaivka, Lebedynske, Vodiane and Shyrokyne. Enemy snipers were active in Novotroyitske and the town of Maryinka. Additionally, infantry fighting vehicles were used to attack Novohryhorivka," the report says.


In the Donetsk sector, the Russian occupation forces opened fire from mortars on the village of Verkhniotoretske and the town of Avdiyivka, as well as rocket-propelled grenades and small arms -- on the villages of Zaitseve, Pisky, Novoselivka Druha, Kamianka and Luhanske.

"The enemy fired from infantry fighting vehicles on the Ukrainian positions near Avdiyivka. Furthermore, snipers were active in the villages of Troyitske, Novoselivka Druha and Kamianka," the headquarters said.

In the Luhansk sector, the militants launched grenades shot small arms on the villages of Novo-Oleksandrivka and Novozvanivka.


***************************

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/402788.html


The Ukrainian Defense Ministry will conduct over 100 exercises this year, to practice coherence among antiaircraft missile units, in particular, a live fire exercise with Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems will take place in Kherson region, ministry spokesman Dmytro Hutsuliak said.

"To ensure coherence among our anti-aircraft missile units, we are planning to conduct around 50 tactical exercises with command staffs of brigades, regiments and core units, almost 25 tactical exercises with Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile batteries and around 35 tactical-specific exercises with logistic units," Hutsuliak said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.

During the Saber Guardian 2017 multinational exercise at Shabla training range in Bulgaria, Ukrainian S-300 SAM units will take part in a live fire drill, the spokesman said.

"Units armed with Buk-M1s will conduct a live fire drill at the Yahorlik training range in Kherson region," he said.

Certain radar troops and crews operating radio-electronic equipment of the Ukrainian Air Forces will be practicing monthly maneuvers that will involve deployments to new position areas.

Also, a number of tactical-specific exercises will be held with practice launches of spy drones.

"Classes with teachers and cadets at Ukrainian Armed Forces training institutions will be held with the active involvement of foreign instructors from the NATO member states," Hutsuliak said.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/402807.html

The Internal Affairs Ministry of Ukraine has said Ukrainian citizens who were detained in Russia in the case on international drug syndicate are victims of human traffickers.

We are talking about Ukrainians, who went to work to Russia and were recruited for these criminal activities, the press service of the Interior Ministry told Interfax-Ukraine on Saturday.

"The National Police and the Interior Ministry are constantly fighting against the organized groups of traffickers. There are hundreds of our citizens in the territory of the Russian Federation, who at various times were victims of human traffickers... They are represented in the Russian Federation not as victims of trafficking, but as members of an organized criminal group," the Interior Ministry's press service said on Saturday.

However, in such cases it is very difficult to prove that we are dealing with human trafficking, and it is difficult to return people to their homeland, even to serve prison sentences, the press service said.

Therefore, the Interior Ministry of Ukraine called on Ukrainians not to seek easy money abroad.

On Friday, February 10, Russian media reported with reference to the Russian Interior Ministry that they uncovered an international drug cartel KhimProm, one of the centers of which was located in Kyiv. A total of 67 people were arrested in this case in Russia, including 47 Ukrainian citizens. The Russian Interior Ministry claimed that there were special recruiting points in Kyiv and advertisements with offer of high-paid couriers jobs in Russia were placed in Ukrainian newspapers.

On Saturday, February 11, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said it expects the Russian Federation to confirm the information about the detention of 47 Ukrainians in the framework of the international drug syndicate case.

Kyiv sent queries to the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Investigative Department of the Russian Interior Ministry asking for the information about Ukrainian citizens among the detainees, the charges against them, the place of their confinement and the availability of a lawyer," the Consular Service Department of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine said in a statement on its Facebook page.

*************
http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=734465
February 13, 2017 14:33
DONETSK. Feb 13 (Interfax) - The territory of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) has come under fire from Ukrainian troops 509 times in the past 24 hours, Eduard Basurin, a senior official with the DPR Defense Ministry, said at a news conference on Monday.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces have opened fire on the territory of the DPR 509 times in the past 24 hours. In these attacks, heavy artillery was used 36 times, tanks four times, mortars of various caliber 176 times, infantry combat vehicles 21 times, and surface-to-air missile systems, grenade launchers and small arms 272 times," Basurin said.

Sixteen populated areas of the republic were shelled in this period of time, he said.

"One DPR serviceman was killed in the continuing attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces," he said.

**********

13:39
Proof of Ukrainian army's use of weapons of mass destruction, Tochka-U missiles, found in Donbas - Russian Investigative Committee (Part 2)

 

[Hindustani78]

https://www.unian.info/war/1775666-...iers-evacuated-to-dnipro-last-week-media.html

Almost a hundred wounded and injured soldiers were evacuated from the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine to the city of Dnipro last week, according to a local news portal, Most-Dnepr.

"Ninety-two soldiers, wounded and injured, were evacuated by all kinds of transportation to Dnipro," Director of Dnipropetrovsky regional emergency medicine center Radiy Shevchenko said at a press conference in a weekly update on Monday, February 13.

In particular, two seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers were delivered by a helicopter to Dnipro on February 8. The evacuation proceeded amid bad weather conditions.


He also said that his center serviced 17,441 emergency calls last week. "Seventy patients who had cold weather injuries have undergone treatment. Since the beginning of the winter, 366 people have suffered from hypothermia. Most of them were drunken males.

Three persons were in serious condition. Two children fell through the ice: an 11-year-old girl in Kamyanske and a 13-year-old boy in Dnipro," Shevchenko said.

************
Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 72 times in the past 24 hours with one wounded in action (WIA), according to the press service of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

https://www.unian.info/war/1775886-donbas-militants-attack-ukraine-72-times-1-wia-in-last-day.html

In the Donetsk sector, the militants shelled 122mm artillery systems on the village of Pisky, as well as 120mm and 82mm mortars on the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Nevelske, Verkhniotoretske and Troyitske.

"Russian occupation forces fired rocket-propelled grenades and small arms on the villages of Nevelske, Zaitseve, Pisky, Novoluhanske, Verkhniotoretske, Novoselivka Druha, and Luhanske. A sniper was active in Nevelske," the report says.

In the Mariupol sector, the occupiers used 122mm artillery systems, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers in the village of Vodiane.

"The enemy opened fire from mortars of various calibers on the town of Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Pavlopil and Shyrokyne. The occupiers also fired rocket-propelled grenades, heavy machine guns, and small arms on the villages of Lebedynske, Bohdanivka, Pavlopil and Shyrokyne. Additionally, infantry fighting vehicles and a sniper were involved in attacking Shyrokyne," the press center said.

In the Luhansk sector, the militants used 82mm mortars and grenade launchers in the attacks on the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Krymske, Valuiske, Novo-Oleksandrivka and Stanytsia Luhanska.

***********

Once a camouflaged tank (type unknown) was spotted by the OSCE monitoring patrol in the village of Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, 23km north-east of Mariupol) February 12, the militants fired warning shots, according to the OSCE SMM daily report.

"On 12 February, while observing a camouflaged tank (type unknown) in "DPR"-controlled Pikuzy , the SMM heard 15-20 shots of small-arms fire 50-100m from the SMM’s position near the tank," the report reads.

The SMM assessed the shots not to be directed at the SMM but to be warning shots. The monitors left the area immediately, according to the report. As UNIAN reported earlier, the militants near their stronghold of Horlivka delayed the passage of and searched the patrol vehicle of the OSCE SMM.

*********
http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/402894.html

The humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) in Minsk will consider the issues of release of hostages and access of representatives of humanitarian missions to the Donbas territory uncontrolled by Ukraine on February 15, Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada first deputy speaker and Kyiv's representative in the humanitarian subgroup Iryna Gerashchenko said.

"The key subject is, certainly, release of hostages and access of international humanitarian missions," Gerashchenko told reporters in Kyiv on Monday.

"'A total of 109 Ukrainian citizens, who are on the lists of the Ukrainian Security Service, are civilians and servicemen and are considered hostages in the territory of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions," she said, recalling that the self-proclaimed Donbas republics have so far confirmed just over 40 people from this list.


At that, Gerashchenko said that the Ukrainian side is aware of the location of 15 people from this list. "We are always talking about that and it's very important to record that these people exist," she said.

As reported, the next meeting of the TCG on the settlement of the situation in eastern Ukraine will take place on February 15.

******

12:38
LPR reports 20 attacks by Ukrainian govt forces in past 24 hours

12:30
Explosion rocks Donetsk Chemical Plant - city administration (Part 2)

11:47
OSCE observers report shooting in DPR

10:49
DPR militia reports over 1,000 attacks by Ukrainian army in past 24 hours