Ukraine War Update - 6 February 2015

Friday, February 6, 2015  7:47 AM PST

ATO forces strong point in Ridkodub village deblocked. Ukrainian servicemen evacuated the wounded and delivered supplies

   (Censor.NET) --- Weapons, ammunition, and food were delivered to the checkpoint controlled by the Ukrainian troops.

   The president's spokesman Sviatoslav Tseholko wrote on Facebook, Censor.NET informs.

   "The Ukrainian military conducted successful operation near Ridkodub village. Weapons, ammunition, and food were delivered to our checkpoint as a result. All the wounded were evacuated. It was reported to the president by the defense minister. According to him, the measures to sweep the enemy from Ridkodub vicinity are underway," Tseholko wrote.

Friday, February 6, 2015  7:20 AM PST

Powerful bomb planted on a railroad bridge in Odesa defused - Interior Ministry

   (Censor.NET) --- The bomb experts from the Interior Ministry of Ukraine Main Directorate in Odesa region have defused a powerful explosive device planted on railroad tracks in Peresyp neighborhood in Odesa.

   The press service of the agency informed on Friday, Censor.NET reports citing Interfax-Ukraine.

   Thus the law enforcement officers' actions prevented the terrorist act.

   The police explained that the bomb was planted near Hlukhyi Bridge in Peresyp neighborhood. There is tram and vehicular traffic under the bridge. The traffic was blocked while the experts were disarming the explosive device.

Friday, February 6, 2015  7:18 AM PST

Ukraine artillery attack kills several hundred rebels in Luhansk oblast

   (Zik) --- Near Zholobok, Luhansk oblast, Ukraine artillery killed several hundred rebels in a massive attack Feb. 4, a source in the Luhansk oblast administration told Ukrayinska Pravda Feb. 6.

Friday, February 6, 2015  6:47 AM PST

Rebels posing as Ukraine army volunteers shell residential areas in Andijivka

   (Zik) --- Ukraine intelligence exposed a group of Donbas rebels who, dressed as ‘Aidar’ volunteer battalion servicemen, were shelling residential areas in Avdijivka, Ukraine army spokesman said Feb. 6, Ukrayinska Pravda reports.

   ‘Aidar’ battalion is not deployed nowhere close to Avdijivka, the official said.

   The rebels have earlier used the same provocations, marking their tanks and APCs and wearing Ukraine army uniforms, he said. 

Friday, February 6, 2015  2:48 AM PST

Ukrainian Volunteers Hold Checkpoint From Separatist Attacks

   (RFE/RL) --- Soldiers of the Dnipro-1 volunteer unit have come under continued attacks from pro-Russian separatists at a checkpoint near the village of Pisky, north-west of Donetsk, over the past week. Interviewed on February 3-4, the men were backed up by armour from the regular Ukrainian army. In recent weeks government forces have been pushed back by a separatist offensive in eastern Ukraine.

Friday, February 6, 2015  1:11 AM PST

Eight wounded Ukrainian soldiers exchanged near Donetsk - media

   (Censor.NET) --- Eight wounded ATO soldiers were released from terrorists’ captivity not far from Donetsk.

   The exchange took place on the 'all for all' basis, Censor.NET reports citing TSN TV channel journalist.

   Ukrainian military were exchanged for nine detained militants. Six of the eight servicemen, released from captivity are the Donetsk airport defenders. All liberated soldiers have injuries. Three of them required special care - they were taken by special ambulances.

   There were two mercenaries from Russia among the captive terrorists. All militants, who were held prisoners by the Ukrainian law enforcers, said they are in a satisfactory condition.

   The exchange was carried out by center for exchange of prisoners of war affiliated with the Security Service of Ukraine in conjunction with the Ministry of Defense in the buffer zone near Donetsk.

Friday, February 6, 2015  12:28 AM PST

Ukraine army destroys 60 rebels, 4 tanks and 7 ammo depots

   (Zik) --- From Feb. 4 through 5, Ukraine troops destroyed 60 Russians and rebels, 4 tanks, and 2 self-propelled guns, Ukraine army spokesman wrote in Facebook Feb. 6.

   The information was confirmed by intelligence reports, he said.

   Near Bryanka, Ukraine troops blew up 7 enemy ammunition depots. 

   During the night between Feb. 5 and 6, the enemy shelled Ukraine army positions 19 times, the official said. 

Friday, February 6, 2015  12:18 AM PST

One soldier killed, 25 wounded Thursday - Joint Staff

   (Censor.NET) --- One Ukrainian soldier killed in the course of the ATO on Feb. 5. Another 25 soldiers received injuries.

   This was announced by the acting speaker of the Joint Staff Vladyslav Selezniov at a briefing, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrainski Novyny.

   According to him, 456 soldiers are currently being treated in hospitals.

   Selezniov also informed that the enemy shelled the ATO forces' positions for 104 times yesterday.

Friday, February 6, 2015 12:17 AM PST

Debaltseve remains hottest place in Donbas, military expert says

   (Zik) --- The fighting in Debaltseve has not let up, with Russian and rebel troops keep on shelling Ukraine army positions using heavy artillery and missile batteries, military expert Dmytro Tymchuk writes in Facebook Feb. 6.

   The enemy is pushing ahead using 6 groups, each including 3 tanks and 4-5 APCs with infantry. The groups are trying to penetrate Ukraine army rear via the gaps between the outposts, Tymchuk says.

   The enemy is also trying to evacuate the armour damaged by Ukraine artillery in the course of the recent fighting near Debaltseve.

   Ukraine army is preventing such actions, effectively using artillery against the evacuation groups, the expert says