Operational data from Information Resistance:
During the past few days in the ATO zone, after the recent slight decrease in the activity of Russian-terrorist troops, militants sharply increased the number of shellings. Terrorists continue shelling the positions of Ukrainian troops using small arms, grenade launchers of different types, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, the on-board guns of armored vehicles, and cannon artillery. The most tense situation is observed in the area of Donetsk, Horlivka, and the Svitlodarsk bridgehead.
In the vicinity of the “industrial zone” (Avdiivka), where militants were particularly active during the past week, the intensity of militant shellings has decreased after the installation of the OSCE video camera. The direction of shellings in this area has shifted southwest of Avdiivka, in the direction of Butovka, the “Zenith” [position], and the ATO forces’ position near Pisky and Opytne. However, during the past 24 hours, terrorists were active in this area again – namely, heavy armor was used near Avdiivka (two tanks, one shelling, the other providing cover fire). Later, two terrorist BMP-2’s and one BTR-80 operated in the same area, carrying out precision fire on the ATO forces’ advanced positions with the cover provided by a mobile fire group employing ZU-23-2.
ATO soldiers and OSCE monitors near Avdiivka, where the filtering [water treatment] station has been damaged recently (screencaps by @GirkinGirkin from video by Ukrainian Military TV)
Militants continue reinforcing their units on the stretch between Donetsk and Horlivka. Militant groups from the reserve of the “DNR 1st Army Corps” were transferred to the vicinity of Stavky, Panteleimonivka, and Kruta Balka (3-4 pieces of armored equipment and 35-40 personnel in each group). Positions along the Spartak–Yakovlivka–Mineralne line also received reinforcements. Militant artillery groups (5-6-gun batteries of cannon artillery) are observed in the areas of Spartak and Yasynuvata. A “roaming” group of BM-21 “Grad” 122 mm MLRS was spotted beyond the slag heaps south of Yakovlivka. The total number of militants attempting to push the ATO forces back on the stretch between Kruta Balka and the northern outskirts of Spartak amounts to one reinforced battalion (plus at least one tank company distributed along the entire stretch).
Militants continue active ground reconnaissance of the ATO forces’ combat positions, mainly by surveillance from advanced observation points. On a number of stretches, terrorists employ DRGs, as well as use local [civilian] residents who travel across the demarcation line in the ATO zone for “agent intelligence.” Additionally, militant radiotechnical surveillance has become more active during the past 4 days; the IR group’s network spotted radio intelligence systems on the move in the northern part of Luhanskand in the direction of Stukalova Balka (a total of six, some escorted by ACVs).
North of Dokuchajevsk, we identified new positions of a militant motorized rifle unit, up to one company in strength and employing up to eight ACVs (some of them, on camouflaged positions). Tank positions (a tank platoon) and a battery of self-propelled artillery (5 guns) were identified further east.
“Somewhere near Donetsk – militants’ ‘martial brotherhood.’” Photo: @GirkinGirkin
In the vicinity of Starobesheve, militant units carried out a large-scale operation to detain a group of deserters from one of the “DNR’s” “motorized rifle brigades,” including 11 terrorists who left their “unit location” with their weapons.
Rumors keep circulating among the “DNR” and “LNR” militants about the planned “May offensive” of Russian-terrorist troops. A number of signs indicate that these rumors are being spread in an intentional, organized manner (the possibility of this being an information-psychological operation should not be excluded).
The “DNR” leaders instructed the “ministries and departments” subordinated to this terrorist organization to accelerate preparation of a document package about the “crimes of the Ukrainian government against the peaceful residents of the DNR.” The plan is to present these documents to international bodies. In connection with this, the “DNR Ministry of Justice” (headed by Elena Radomskaya) held a meeting to discuss the submission of numerous claims to the European Court of Human Rights about the “criminal actions of the Ukrainian authorities,” who, allegedly, are ignoring the Minsk Agreements and shelling the peaceful residents of the “DNR.” At the same time, the administration of Alexander Zakharchenko [head of the “DNR”] instructed the “DNR Ministry of Defense” (headed by Vladimir Kononov) and the “DNR Ministry of Information” (headed by Elena Nikitina) to prepare video materials about the “provocations and crimes by the Ukrainian military” to illustrate the claims.
Source: http://maidantranslations.com
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