The Situation in the Ukraine. #24

Today's update from a bunker somewhere in downtown Kiev. Looks like they call every bit of military gear/personnel east of the ceasefire line 'Russian'.

Situation in the ATO area as of May 23, 2016

The enemy continues fire influence on the ATO forces units. During twenty-four hours, it was noted that the adversary shelled 31 times from the small arms, grenade launchers, antiaircraft systems ZU-23-2, IFVs, 82/120-mm mortars, 122-mm and 152-mm artillery systems. The attacks were, as follows: 2 attacks – Zhovte, Sokilnyky (Novoaidar direction), 2 attacks – Novozvanivka (Sieverodonetsk direction), 2 attacks – Troitske, Zaitseve (Sloviansk direction), 12 attacks – Avdiivka, Nevelske, Krasnohorivka (Donetsk direction), 4 attacks – Taramchuk, Novotroitske (Volnovakha direction), 9 attacks – Pavlopil, Talakivka, Shyrokyne (Mariupol direction).

It is continued a regrouping, rotation of the advanced enemy’s units as well as resupply of ammunition and POL in the following directions:

Donetsk direction. It was conducted a rotation of the advanced units of the 11th separate motorized rifle regiment (Makiivka) in the area of Spartak. It was executed ammunition upload of the regiment’s units in the area of the industrial zone of Avdiivka: 8 “Ural” trucks with ammunition, including for grenade launchers, AD systems, mortars, tanks.

Mariupol direction. A motor column consisting of 12 fuel servicing trucks arrived from the Russian territory through Khomutove (14 km in the north from Novoazovsk).

On May 22, 2016, the enemy employed two UFVs of tactical level for making reconnaissance of the ATO forces in Mariupol and Donetsk directions. The drones crossed uncontrolled area of state border of Ukraine in the area of Markyne and Ulianovske from the Russian territory.

Other losses among the personnel of the units and formations of the 1st AC (Donetsk) and 2nd AC (Luhansk) of the Russian Armed Forces were noted.

On May 22, 2016, three servicemen of the 2nd separate motorized rifle brigade (Luhansk) of the 2nd AC (Luhansk) of the Russian Armed Forces, which acted within the SRGs were wounded.

The Ukrainian side informed the representatives of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine about the presence of tanks, SP arty sys in the areas of Holmivskyi, Debaltseve, Makiivka and Donetsk.

The Russian occupation troops’ command continues to prevent the activity of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk oblast.

On May 22, 2016, according to the order of the commander of the 1st AC (Donetsk) Major-General of the Russian Armed Forces V.ASAPOV, there was mounted a “protest campaign” in Donetsk with the aim of artificial demonstration of negative attitude of the population in relation to the activities of international observers as well as the electric power supply of remote monitoring system of the OSCE Mission was switched off in the area of Donetsk airport.

It was established other facts of plundering of the personnel property of civil population by the Russian Armed Forces servicemen in the temporarily occupied territories of the East of Ukraine and transported it in the territory of Russia.

On May 21, 2016, the commander of the 7th separate motorized rifle brigade (Debaltseve) of the 2nd AC (Luhansk) Colonel of the Russian Armed Forces Oleksandr BUSHUIEV tried to transport in the territory of Russia a white off-road vehicle Acura MDX in the container with “personal things”. In view of the absence of any documents concerning the legality of purchase of the vehicle, the information about preceding vehicle’s owner who is officially considered as “missing” as well as the features of illegal using of service military vehicle with a private view, above-mentioned vehicle was confiscated by the Russian FSB employees. There was organized inspection on this fact.

After coming back to the location of the brigade, a mentally unstable Colonel of the Russian Armed Forces O.BUSHUIEV accused his deputy for combat training and the chief of operations section–brigade’s deputy chief of staff Colonel of the Russian Armed Forces MOISEIEV Dmytro Volodymyrovych of intentionally betraying him and threaten to punish them.

Because of law moral-business proficiency and competency of the commander of the 7th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 2nd AC Colonel Oleksandr BUSHUIEV, a number of incidents with his participation, including those that led to causeless losses among the personnel and the fighting equipment as well as a mental instability and a rude attitude to the subordinate, it forced the command of the Russian occupation troops to revoke a solution on sending him to Military Academy of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces for studying.

http://gur.mil.gov.ua/en/content/situation-in-ato-area-and-around-syria.html

Then this an update from Kiev of the first week in May, excerpt.

The Russian Federation continues to supply the weapons and military equipment as well as mercenaries in the territory under the control of militants.
During a week, 38 tanks, 14 AICVs, 12 artillery systems, 1750 tons of fuel and more than 560 tons of ammo were delivered to the militants of the 1st and 2nd AC by railway tracks and motor roads.
The statistics analysis is indicative of augmentation of the POL supplies to the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas at the storage bases of the 1st AC and 2nd AC of the Territorial Forces Center which are located in the following settlements: Donetsk, Ilovaisk, Krasnodon, Makiivka, Rovenky, Snizhne, Torez, Khartsyzk.
Mentioned above is related with the conducting of final exercises for winter period training of the 1st AC and 2nd AC and replenishment of the ammo according to the prescribed allowance. In particular, in April, 2016, it was delivered from Russia to the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas more than 8200 tons of fuel that comprise 52% from fuel volume (16 000 tons) transported from the beginning of a year.
It should be noted that from January 1, 2016, there were delivered a sufficient amount of the weapons and military equipment to the several areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts from Russia in order to create new enemy’s formations. In addition, in April, 2016, there was transported the military equipments both from the Russian Armed Forces storage depots and repaired ones that were previously brought out from the Ukrainian territory to the Russian repair plants. In particular, 68 tanks, 140 IFVs and APCs, as well as 20 arty sys and fuel servicing trucks, that enough for forming of the motorized rifle brigade with enhanced armored component.
At the same time, the fact of additional transportation of 52 fuel servicing trucks from the beginning of a year, directly indicates that the Russian command has attempted to provide a high self-sustainability and mobility of armored and SP artillery units.

http://gur-mou.gov.ua/en/content/osoblyvosti-rozvytku-obstanovky-na-tymchasovo-okupovanykh-terytoriiakh-ukrainy.html

JohninMK wrote:Then this an update from Kiev of the first week in May, excerpt.

The Russian Federation continues to supply the weapons and military equipment as well as mercenaries in the territory under the control of militants.
During a week, 38 tanks, 14 AICVs, 12 artillery systems, 1750 tons of fuel and more than 560 tons of ammo were delivered to the militants of the 1st and 2nd AC by railway tracks and motor roads.
The statistics analysis is indicative of augmentation of the POL supplies to the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas at the storage bases of the 1st AC and 2nd AC of the Territorial Forces Center which are located in the following settlements: Donetsk, Ilovaisk, Krasnodon, Makiivka, Rovenky, Snizhne, Torez, Khartsyzk.
Mentioned above is related with the conducting of final exercises for winter period training of the 1st AC and 2nd AC and replenishment of the ammo according to the prescribed allowance. In particular, in April, 2016, it was delivered from Russia to the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas more than 8200 tons of fuel that comprise 52% from fuel volume (16 000 tons) transported from the beginning of a year.
It should be noted that from January 1, 2016, there were delivered a sufficient amount of the weapons and military equipment to the several areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts from Russia in order to create new enemy’s formations. In addition, in April, 2016, there was transported the military equipments both from the Russian Armed Forces storage depots and repaired ones that were previously brought out from the Ukrainian territory to the Russian repair plants. In particular, 68 tanks, 140 IFVs and APCs, as well as 20 arty sys and fuel servicing trucks, that enough for forming of the motorized rifle brigade with enhanced armored component.
At the same time, the fact of additional transportation of 52 fuel servicing trucks from the beginning of a year, directly indicates that the Russian command has attempted to provide a high self-sustainability and mobility of armored and SP artillery units.

http://gur-mou.gov.ua/en/content/osoblyvosti-rozvytku-obstanovky-na-tymchasovo-okupovanykh-terytoriiakh-ukrainy.html

Neat site, thanks for sharing. So the NAF is actually the 12th Territorial Reserve Command of the Russian Army. Enough new equipment for 6 tank, 6 motor rifle and 6 artillery battalions so far this year alone. No wonder the UAF is afraid to attack. Wonder when are they releasing the SAT images?

I cannot give a link or provide any proof, so hesitate before posting this as it may be stuffing. Anyway, just in case it turns out true, it is reported that at Volnovakha today arrived a train loaded with large amounts of military equipment, including 4,000 rockets for Grad which were then transported by road up to ukrops formations in the area of Granitnoe. IF true, this is potentially very serious for Telmanovo, and this number of rockets would be in addition to what ukrops already have at the front.

Thanks for the info Khepesh, like I said a week ago, watch for the ammunition convoys.

A termometer of the fight, bear in mind I very much doubt this account is of individual shells, but of "shellings".

I heard that Maidan armed forces have just raided Vietnamese settlements at Làng Sen, Odessa.



According to what I heard, about 20 armed personnel rushed into Vietnamese settlement w/o notification. They destroyed the safes, took all money and valuable properties. Anyone tried to protest was brutally beaten.

Vietnamese citizen was enraged and they rushed out to block the armed personnel. These armed personnel used guns, tear gas, batons and brutal violence to suppress the citizens. Vietnamese citizens responded by fighting back with whatever they have. The prolonged fighting caused traffic jam in many places.

Later the Vietnameses tried to contact with Tie Eater Sakaashivilii to ask for help. But at the moment the Tie Eater wasn't at the office. Vietnamese citizens threatened to leave Ukraine en masse because they cannot live in a country where there properties will be robbed at anytime. Finally, Tie Eater's consulator, Salomia Bobrovskaya, made a public apologize and promised to tighten the security in Làng Sen.

Vietnamese Ambassador also announced that they would quickly arrived at Odessa to help the people.

It is said that, the Vietnameses managed to track the location of one of their smartphone which was robbed by the armed personnel. The smartphone was on the way to Kiev - don't know whether it will end in the pocket of Porkyshenko or not...

^ Odessa to Kiev highway was blocked for a while and group of Vietnamese began marching on Odessa prosecutors office last night. Perhaps the Vietnam People's Army can send "observers" to Donbass.....


The day before, the recreational facility "Topaz" at Odessa was taken over by unknown armed men and wrecked. Topaz is officially government property as is used by state geological concern, so this should not have been the normal gangster affairs. There was also several of these mysterious grenade explosions in Odessa as well. There is the feeling that everything could just start falling apart very badly very quickly. I'm sure the Vietnamese in Odessa know where to look for support of the kind that will be needed, but I think they are now in a difficult position, as being a minority they stick out and will be easy target, say for those who will shout "fifth column" and "Russian friendly". They need to arm themselves and be prepared.

Although the Vietnamese are a group that are clearly identifiable they now know what the future holds so they will be more prepared next time, as there will be a next time.

It is other less cohesive groups, like normal Ukrainians, who are potentially most at risk. As this continues it is going to increase the level of desertion in the UA as families/villages/towns plead with their young men to come home to defend them.

A foretaste of things to come as the money and other resources run out and it becomes a survival of the strongest. More steps down the slippery slope to anarchy.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016 - 13:35

Ukraine is gradually taking control of the localities which, by the Minsk Agreements, must remain in the "grey zone". It was admitted by the head of the Donetsk region Pavel Zhebrivsky on air of the Ukrainian TV channel 112.

According to him, Ukraine has expanded its borders right to the demarcation line with the DPR< reports The Politnavigator.

‘Half a year ago we had a lot of localities in the area of ​​the so-called "grey zone". It means that entry and exit checkpoints were somewhere five, or ten, or fifteen kilometres away from the contact line. Today, we have advanced checkpoints actually to the demarcation line,’ said Zhebrivsky.

http://dninews.com/article/kiev-boasted-seizure-dpr-territory-defiance-minsk-agreements

Vietnamese settlement after the raid.

Even their contact in the EU says the party is over

Speaking at an international expert discussion on the development of the Ukrainian energy market in Brussels on Tuesday, EU-Ukraine Support Group representative Torsten Woellert suggested that Ukrainians must understand that the concept of cheap energy is a thing of the past.

"Everyone in Ukraine knows that a situation of cheap energy subsidized by a third country, specifically Russia, is a thing of the past," Woellert said, adding that subsidies, if they are to exist, must be provided internally, "only there is a question about who should do so."

The official warned Ukrainian authorities against 'engaging in populism' with regard to rising utility rates, but acknowledged that there are concerns over the ability of certain segments of the population of Ukrainians to pay the increased tariffs. He emphasized that this was an issue which must be handled by Ukraine's social safety net, and by educating people about saving energy.

There is more at: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160524/1040189597/ukraine-energy-tariffs-european-commission.html#ixzz49bK7ta72

Yuri Shevchenko, commander of LNR 4th Brigade, previously chief of staff to Alexei Mozgovoi and who took command of Prizrak after the murder of Mozgovoi, was today sacked personally by Plotnitsky for his involvement in the instalation of the memorial statue to Mozgovoi yesterday at Alchevsk. http://rusvesna.su/news/1464111340

On the day he was murdered it was forecast that Pavel Dremov would be next, and he was. Perhaps Shevchenko should leave Donbass fast before becoming the fifth victim, or will that be Kozitsyn even tho he is back in Rostov. Here is another forecast, the statue to Mozgovoi will be damaged or destroyed at some time in the future, maybe within months, maybe when the war is over, but it will happen, it will happen at night by "unknown", and it will not be investigated, but we all know who will be responsible, yes, "ukrops DRG"........

Plotnitsky needs to be assassinated.

There is further from Yuri Shevchenko, that it is possible that the statue of Mozgovoi may be dismantled at any time. Initially permission was given to install the statue, then, and this is rather murky, permission was revoked retrospectively and without informing Shevchenko or any of those involved. A rumor was made that if the statue was erected then there would be disturbances. There was no disturbances, but the rumor was made deliberately to dissuade people of Alchevsk from attending. A petition is being organised of Alchevsk residents against removal of the statue. But after four prominent murders, who will be brave enough to make a determined stand against this.

I am tabulating the results for the spring campaign to figure the ebb and flow of the war, this is from Basurin briefing two days ago. I quote it for future reference

http://dninews.com/article/donetsk-defense-situation-report-23052016

Our intelligence reports the extremely low morale in the AFU units. We make such conclusions based on systematically obtained documents from the "ATO" headquarters. In particular, the APU command does not dismiss the military of the 5th wave of mobilization, deliberately delaying the timing of their service. Due to this fact, the military openly express defiance to their commanders, declaring not to understand this war. Such sentiments provoke the nationalist units to conflict with the AFU soldiers unwilling to fight. The conflicts often end in the meanest shooting of soldiers in the back or mutual skirmishes. According to our estimates, due to such conflicts, only over the past two weeks the losses in the AFU units and divisions amounted to more than 70 men killed, not to mention the wounded. The AFU command is hiding the true causes of conflicts, not voicing these data even as non-combat losses.

An endless stream of the killed and wounded to military hospitals of Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Mariupol and other cities of Ukraine indicates an attempt of the Ukrainian military command to hide the true situation in the "ATO" area. They try to hush up the fact that the second and the ninth of May divided the Ukrainian military environment into two parts, with the most of soldiers categorically refusing to fight.

Our intelligence reports the growth of contradictions of the Ukrainian soldiers not only with the voluntary nationalist units, such as the "Azov" and "Aydar", but also with their direct commanders who came to sit up in their headquarters and obtain the status of a participant in hostilities and undeserved rewards, in fact, on the blood of civilians. As it turns out, these are the commanders who give orders to shell the DPR territory or perform stupid tasks putting the lives of their subordinates at risk. These are the commanders who take you for cannon fodder, imagining you getting into another pocket by their fault.

A full answer would be rather long and contentious and lead to shouting etc, so briefly and without too much contentious issues it is this. It is same as Al Capone benefitted from Saint Valentine's Day Massacre, except this is happening one victim at a time, well, more with those killed with Bednov, and the important difference is that in this new version, only one "faction" are crimminals, not both, and it is the victims who are the good guys. There is no evidence of who killed Ishchenko, Bednov, Mozgovoi and Dremov, but those who support Plotnitsky, or at least get very irrate about any talk of these murders, make the feeble excuse that those killed were engaging in makhnovshchina and so "deserved" to die. In itself, using this, or any excuse, is almost an admission of guilt, but this seems to be overlooked. The reality is that none of them were engaging in makhnovshchina to the extent of running private armies and waging war on their own terms, that can more be said of Kozitsyn and Bezler, but even saying that is a little unfair given the situation of overall command in Donetsk and Lugansk, mostly Lugansk, which was a little chaotic anyway. Mozgovoi of course saw that there was a general problem in command in LNR and tried to arrange with all commanders that a unified command be set up. This did not happen until it was imposed in August 2014 when the leaderships of DNR and LNR were changed, so Mozgovoi can hardly be accused of makhnovism, or any of the other three. The closest to anything like makhnovism among the four was with Dremov who set up a "Soviet" in Stakhanov, but this was simply at local level for the governance of the city, not any military adventurism. Such facts get deliberately overlooked, if they are even known, by those who make excuses for the murders. It is difficult to see why Plotnitsky does not want a statue to Mozgovoi unless he sees it as a reproach to him, and if so, the question remains of why that would be so. And of course it is known that all four had crossed Plotnitsky and were not exactly on friendly terms with him. All four victims were men capable of independent thought and vision, and such men are no longer necessary it seems, so are to be "airbrushed" from history, like the way Nikolai Yeshov was airbrushed from photos with him and Stalin after he was purged.

Yesterday Eduard Limonov said that Savchenko will be exchanged for Evgeny Erofeev and Alexandr Alexandrov. Today, before the news broke that this is now occuring, he repeated it will happen, and he says it is a disgrace. Savchenko is guilty of murder, she will will get airtime on western media and will pour shit on Russia. She should have been executed, IMO, and I agree with Limonov that this exchange should not happen. An exchange of two for one may seem a good deal, and nothing against Erofeev and Alexandrov of course, who should not have been in SBU basement anyway, but the propaganda victory for Poroshenko and the West is not worth the price.

Edit: Erofeev and Alexandrov have arrived at Vnukovo, despite this not reported on media, but no live broadcast, nothing on 24 except hours old news of Peskov saying he doesn't know what is happening. On the other hand, ukrops TV are wall to wall coverage and constant stream from Borispol. So I wonder who thinks they got a better deal from this.

On better news Zakharchenko on the "straight line" to Kherson has repeated what he said to Odessites, that help will come. Also a response to recent provocations is formulated, but he has to act responsibily in whatever action is taken. He also admitted that Minsk is not liked or wanted by majority in DNR.

sepheronx wrote:

Khepesh wrote:There is further from Yuri Shevchenko, that it is possible that the statue of Mozgovoi may be dismantled at any time. Initially permission was given to install the statue, then, and this is rather murky, permission was revoked retrospectively and without informing Shevchenko or any of those involved. A rumor was made that if the statue was erected then there would be disturbances. There was no disturbances, but the rumor was made deliberately to dissuade people of Alchevsk from attending. A petition is being organised of Alchevsk residents against removal of the statue. But after four prominent murders, who will be brave enough to make a determined stand against this.

What does this Plotnitsky guy get out of all this activity?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w8BH8Jq4dgc

sepheronx wrote:It's best if they pack up and leave. Move to Russia if they don't wanna go back to Vietnam. They could probably get in easier and Russia seems to be accepting all types of people. Ukraine is a basket case.

emmmm NO

Rfi.France, May 25, 2016 Translated from French by Tom Winter

Ukraine: renewed fighting in the Donbass With our correspondent in Kiev, Stéphane Siohan

In one day, seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed and nine injured -- the heaviest record in the Donbass in almost a year. On Tuesday, May 24th, in a manner as yet unexplained, the shelling suddenly intensified, especially near the town of Avdiivka, and the separatist artillery did enormous damage in the Ukrainian ranks.

Despite difficult negotiations, the conflict was never really extinguished: artillery exchanges continue on a daily basis, aggravating the total balance sheet of the war. Earlier this week, Petro Poroshenko, traveling in Turkey, said that the war in the Donbass had now passed 10,000 dead and 20,000 injured.

This renewed tension comes at a very particular political moment: Monday, leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France in a joint phone call addressed the idea of local elections in the Donbass this summer, elections that would take place within the Ukrainian legal framework. But at present the security situation on the ground contradicts the position of the diplomats: it is illusory to see elections being held while arms continue to talk, and kill.

http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/05/separatist-artillery-did-enormous.html


ATO update: Situation in Donbas remains tense, Ukrainian troops survive 33 attacks in last day

The situation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine remains tense after 33 attacks on Ukrainian troops in the past 24 hours, the press center of the ATO headquarters wrote on Facebook on Wednesday morning.

"The enemy continues intensive fire on our soldiers in the industrial zone of the town of Avdiyivka. At night, the terrorists repeatedly opened fire from grenade launchers, anti-aircraft systems and 82mm mortars. Small arms fire almost never stops there," it said.

http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/345577.html