Ukraine War Update - 13 February 2015

Friday, February 13, 2015  9:02 AM PST

Terrorists shelled government-controlled town of Hirnyk from Grads. Four people died.

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants shelled Hirnyk town from Grads. According to the Donetsk Regional State Administration, four people were killed and 16 injured.

   Censor.NET reports citing Donetsk Regional Police Head Viacheslav Abroskin's statement.

   "The militants used Grad multiple rocket launchers to attack Hirnyk (the town in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, subordinate to Selidove city council - Ed.)," he wrote.

   According to preliminary information, at least three women were killed. "The information is currently specified," the law enforcement officer added.

   At the same time, according to the of the Donetsk Regional State Administration health department, 16 people were injured by the shelling. Six of them were taken to a hospital.

   "Six wounded people, including one severely injured child, who suffered from today's shelling of the town of Hirnyk, were delivered to the hospital. Ten more people received medical treatment without hospitalization. Information on casualties is specified," the statement, posted on the Regional State Administration website reads. The administration later clarified that the shelling killed four people.

Friday, February 13, 2015  8:52 AM PST

Terrorists shelled Artemivsk town with Grad killing a 7-year-old.

   (Censor.NET) --- Terrorists fired Grad rockets at Artemivsk in the Donetsk region.

   This is stated by Head of the Donetsk police Viacheslav Abroskin on his Facebook page, Censor.NET reports.

   "Terrorists shelled the town of Artemivsk with Grad. A shell exploded near school #4. A 7-year-old child was killed. An investigative team of the Artemivsk city police department is working at the site," he wrote.

   As a result of the shelling five people were hospitalized, according to the Department of Health of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.

   "The shelling of the city Artemovisk by members of illegal armed groups today in the afternoon killed one person - a boy who was a second-grader in a local school. His underage sister and four other people were injured and subsequently taken to hospital," the Administration reported.

Friday, February 13, 2015  7:41 AM PST

Number of gunmen in Donbas conflict zone increases every hour - Shkiryak

   KIEV, February 13 (Ukrinform). --- Columns of heavy vehicles and artillery systems continue to cross into areas currently under the temporary control of gunmen in the Donbas conflict zone.

   The news was stated by advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Zorian Shkiryak, Ukrinform reports.

   "The enemy threw unseen manpower towards Debaltseve areas. The gunmen whose numbers are swelling every hour were ordered to capture the city of Debaltseve by February 15," the press service of the Interior Ministry quoted Shkiryak as saying.

   The adviser said that the terrorists are continuously attacking by using artillery and multiple launcher rocket systems.

   "Gunmen are turning Debaltseve areas into the scorched earth. The heaviest battles are seen in the area of Lohvinove - Kalynivka. They try to encircle us. The unstoppable heavy fighting rages on," said Shkiryak.

Friday, February 13, 2015  7:38 AM PST

Death toll of the terrorists’ attack on cafe in Shchastia village increased to four people. Three more were severely injured

   (Censor.NET) --- According to the updated information, four civilians were killed and five other were wounded by the artillery strike that impacted a cafe in Shchastia village.

   Censor.NET reports citing the press service of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Head Hennadii Moskal.

   "It became recently known that not two but four civilians were killed by the shelling of "Dorozhnie" cafe in the village of Shchastia. Five more people were injured, three of them severely. All the victims are women - the cafe employees (the projectile hit the kitchen area)," Moskal said.

   Earlier, the terrorists committed heavy shelling of Shchastia from the village of Vesela Hora at about 10 a.m. today, which damaged infrastructure facilities (water, heat, and gas supplying facilities). One of the shells hit "Dorozhnie" café.

Friday, February 13, 2015  6:13 AM PST

Presidents of Ukraine, Romania discuss situation in Donbas

   (Interfax) --- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with the President of Romania Klaus Iohannis in Brussels on Thursday.

   The parties discussed the situation in Donbas after a document which included a set of measures on the implementation of the Minsk agreements had been signed in Minsk, the president's press service has reported.

   The Ukrainian President thanked Romania for its strong support of Ukraine. He also noted the importance of bilateral cooperation.

Poroshenko invited his Romanian counterpart to visit Ukraine in March. The invitation was accepted.

Friday, February 13, 2015  6:12 AM PST

Tank battle under way east of Mariupol - Ukrainian forces

   (Interfax) --- A tank battle between Ukrainian government forces and the militants is under way in the village of Shyrokyne, Volnovakha district of Donetsk region, which was freed by Ukrainian forces on February 10.

   "A battle between Azov regiment and terrorists is currently under way in Shyrokyne. The latter are using a Russian tank," the Ukrainian special regiment Azov incorporated with the National Guard reported on its VKontakte account.

Friday, February 13, 2015  6:04 AM PST

Militants ordered to seize Debaltseve and Mariupol before ceasefire starts – defense ministry

   (Interfax) --- Militants have been instructed to seize Debaltseve and Mariupol in Donetsk region by February 15, when a ceasefire is due to begin, deputy defense minister of Ukraine Petro Mekhed has reported.

   "If we take into account that as of today we reached the agreement to abide by a ceasefire by 0:00 on February 15, under my information, the Russian terrorist troops have been set the task to raise a flag over Debaltseve and Mariupol," he told journalists in Kiev on Monday.

   Mekhed said the Defense Ministry expects the escalation of the situation on these tracks and is taking all necessary measures to repel the militants' attacks.

   He said four instances of fighting were registered in the anti-terrorist operation zone on Thursday and three were registered there on Friday morning.

   Mekhed said the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported an increase in the number of Russian troops in the combat area.

   "In addition, they are supplying weapons to militants, they are actively fighting […] and there is a tendency towards an increase. We can say that over 10,000 Russian troops are now in Ukraine," he said.

Friday, February 13, 2015  4:50 AM PST

Fighting continues between Lohvynove, Luhansk – ATO spokesman

   (Interfax) --- Anti-terrorist operation spokesman Andriy Lysenko has said fighting is currently underway between the Ukrainian army and militants for the village of Lohvynove of Artemivsky district, Donetsk region.

   He said neither side had gained control over Lohvynove thus far.

   The Ukrainian army had reported that its personnel had killed over 50 militants, destroyed several armoured vehicles and took 12 prisoners.

   "The enemy is focused on seizing control over Lohvynove. There is a fierce artillery duel and fighting is going on between Luhansk and Lohvynove," the Donbas battalion has reported.

   The battalion had said it had destroyed three militant tanks and "the intensity of the fighting has been increasing."

   "After the terrorists had easily brought in reinforcements and delivered a counter strike yesterday, the Ukrainian Armed Forces units and the National Guard, unprotected by armour, had to leave the town. Fighting is in progress between Lohvynove and Luhansk and its intensity has been increasing," Ukrainian parliament deputy and commander of the Donbas battalion Semen Semenchenko wrote on Facebook.

Friday, February 13, 2015  4:40 AM PST

Ukrainian soldiers near Debaltseve have doubts in terrorists' complying with Minsk agreement.

   (Censor.NET) --- Ukrainian soldiers who repulse attacks of Russian mercenaries near Debaltseve have doubts that the terrorists will abide by the Minsk agreement.

   As reported by Censor.NET, the soldiers speak of the terrorists' non-compliance with previous agreements, and say they are ready to eliminate the enemy that occupied the Ukrainian land.

Friday, February 13, 2015  3:38 AM PST

Town of Shchastia, the Luhansk region, is under militants’ attack. Two civilians killed, six wounded

   (Censor.NET) --- The terrorists struck the city of Shchastia in the Luhansk region using artillery. A shell hit a cafe.

   Shchastia was shelled by artillery on Friday afternoon, Feb. 13, Censor.NET reports citing the press service of Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Hennadii Moskal.

   "Moments ago the terrorists shelled the town of Shchastia from Vesela Hora using artillery. A projectile hit a cafe with people inside. We know about two dead and three seriously injured. In addition, three passers-by were wounded. Presently, soldiers are clearing up the debris of the cafe to find out whether more people were injured," the statement reads.

   Head of the Luhansk region police Anatolii Naumenko stated on his Facebook page that nine people were in the rubble of the cafe. At the moment, police officers are pulling the victims from under the rubble and taking the wounded to hospitals. According to Naumenko, shelling of Shchastia was cruel: "The artillery from that side hit with such fury, it was choking. There are many casualties among civilians. The town is on fire."

   Moskal also reports that several shells hit garages, which subsequently ignited and are now burning together with cars inside. The town's heating pipes, power lines and water supply system have been damaged. Details of the shelling damage are being established. "This is how they are preparing for general cease-fire," the governor summed up.

Friday, February 13, 2015  1:51 AM PST

Pro-Russian terrorists attack Debaltseve city using Uragan MRLS rockets

   KIEV, February 13 (Ukrinform). --- It was another restless night again in Donbas. The terrorists intensified shelling of Ukrainian military positions.

   The news was reported by press-center of anti-terrorist operation in Donbas on its Facebook page.

   "Gunmen shelled 25 times the city of Debaltseve and the villages nearby on Thursday. About 20.00, the western outskirts of Debaltseve were attacked by the enemy's Uragan multiple rocket launcher systems,” said the military officials.

   In addition, gunmen attacked the towns and villages of Shchastya, Toshkivka, Krymske and Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhansk region. The village of Vodyane was attacked in Donetsk region.

   "Last night, there were reported more than 40 attacks by the terrorists on the positions and residential areas defended by Ukrainian forces," said the officials.

Friday, February 13, 2015  1:27 AM PST

Eight Ukrainian warriors die, 34 wounded in Donbas conflict zone in the past 24 hour period

   KIEV, February 13 (Ukrinform). --- Eight Ukrainian warriors die and 34 soldiers were wounded within the last day of fighting against Russian-terrorist forces in the Donbas conflict zone.

   Acting spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vladyslav Seleznyov told journalists at a briefing on Friday, an Ukrinform's correspondent reported.

   "Due to the attacks, fighting, and the most difficult situation in the area Debaltseve bridgehead, Ukraine has lost eight soldiers and other 34 soldiers were wounded," he said.

   Currently, all the wounded were taken to military hospitals where medical staff were treating their wounds.

   According to Seleznyov, military hospitals and medical facilities received 594 wounded military personnel, including 27 severely wounded as of today.