Ukraine War Update - 30 March 2015

Monday, March 30, 2015  9:05 AM PDT

"We need the whole of Ukraine," terrorist Vostok battalion leader says

   (Censor.NET) --- One of the militant leaders of the "DPR", commander of the terrorist Vostok (East) battalion and the so-called "DPR secretary of the security council" Alexander Khodakovsky says that Russian mercenaries' plans in the Donbas are exclusively offensive and that they "need the whole of Ukraine."

   He stated this in an interview with Lenta.Ru, Censor.NET reports.

   Khodakovsky also noted that the Russian-terrorist troops intend to continue offensive operations with the use of heavy artillery in order to capture new territories of Ukraine.

   "The trend in the fighting to push the front line set in August will continue. If we up our activities, it is only in order to move forward. We would not want, because in this case there are inevitable human and infrastructure losses. We do not have sufficient human resources, so we are forced to use artillery. The destruction is inevitable, "- said the gunman.

   He also added that he accepts the existence of so-called "LPR" and "DPR" only as a transitional phase.

   "Our war will end when there will be a pro-Russian anti-fascist state to the south of Russia. In other words, we need the whole of Ukraine," Khodakovsky said.

Monday, March 30, 2015  8:32 AM PDT

Kiev police catch Luhansk resident with grenade

   (Zik) --- March 30, the police report the arrest of a suspect, a resident of Luhansk, who had a grenade on him. The suspect, 39, is an unemployed who said he came to Kiev 2 weeks ago to search for a job.

   He said he found the grenade in the street. When he saw the police officers coming to him he threw the grenade away.

   The term in prison the suspect is facing is between 2 and 5 years in jail.

Monday, March 30, 2015  8:25 AM PDT

Russian Police Special Rapid Response Unit SOBR arrives in Donetsk

   KIEV, March 30 (Ukrinform). --- The Special Rapid Response Unit of Russian Interior Ministry arrived in Donetsk to neutralize gunmen's leaders who do not want to obey the leadership of "LPR" and "DPR".

   Deputy Commander of the anti-terrorist operation in the Donbas conflict zone Colonel Valentyn Fedichev told residents on Monday in his video address, the press service of Donetsk Regional State Administration reported.

   "We want to address the Cossacks of Don Army who keep on refusing to join Novorossiya Army that on March 29 the Special Rapid Response Unit SOBR of Russian Interior Ministry arrived in Donetsk. The unit is likely to liquidate the gunmen's leaders who do not want to obey the united leadership of "DPR" and "LPR". Hunting for you, Cossacks, can begin soon," warns Fedichev.

Monday, March 30, 2015  7:46 AM PDT

Lysenko says about stabilization in ATO area

   KIEV, March 30 (Ukrinform). --- Over the last day, the situation in the area of the anti-terrorist operation has been tending to gradual stabilization.

   Spokesman for the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing in Kiev on Monday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

   "The situation in the east of Ukraine is gradually stabilizing - there were no facts of using armoured vehicles, conventional and rocket artillery observed in past day," he said.

   However, there are continuing armed provocations by militants along the contact line, except for the eastern part of the Luhansk region.

   The villages of Shyrokyne (near Mariupol) and Hranitne (between Mariupol and Volnovakha) were the areas of the highest tension yesterday. There was also a military clash in the village of Triokhizbenka, near Bakhmutska route: militants attacked Ukrainian stronghold, but the offensive was repelled.

Monday, March 30, 2015  6:46 AM PDT

Militants attacked Ukrainian border guards and soldiers at Maiorsk checkpoint – State Border Guard Service

   (Censor.NET) --- The border guards continue to carry out protection of the Ukrainian-Russian border and the demarcation line between the ATO forces and militants. The situation in the anti-terrorist operation area remains difficult.

   The terrorists fired at the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the Armed forces of Ukraine military personnel positions at the checkpoint in Maiorsk village yesterday, March 29, Censor.NET reports citing the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

   The militants used small arms during the attack. There are no casualties among the Ukrainian servicemen.

   The border guards' detachments detained 12 trucks along the demarcation line carrying more than 178 tons of goods. They were transporting food and scrap metal without proper documents. All vehicles were handed over to the fiscal services for further proceedings.

Monday, March 30, 2015  3:29 AM PDT

Terrorists attacked Ukrainian platoon strongpoint in Triokhizbenka - NSDC.MAP

   (Censor.NET) --- The ATO headquarters announced the situation in the Donbas more stable.

   Press secretary of the Anti-terrorist operation headquarters, Colonel Andrii Lysenko said at a briefing, Censor.NET reports.
   "The situation in the east of Ukraine is gradually getting more stable. No cases of enemy's use of armoured vehicles, cannon and missile artillery were reported. Along with that, armed provocations by the mercenaries continue along the demarcation line, except from the Luhansk region. The most tense spots were Shyrokyne near Mariupol and Hranitne villages.
   "A fighting occurred in the village of Triohizbenka, near the Bakhmutka road: the terrorists attacked a Ukrainian platoon strong point. The attack has been repulsed," Lysenko said.

Monday, March 30, 2015  3:21 AM PDT

One Ukrainian soldier killed, three wounded over the past day - NSDC

   (Censor.NET) --- One Ukrainian soldier was killed in the ATO area on Sunday, three were wounded.

   As reported by Censor.NET citing Channel 112 Ukraine, this was announced by the ATO speaker Andrii Lysenko at a briefing.

   "The situation in the east of Ukraine is gradually getting more stable. No cases of enemy's use of armoured vehicles, cannon and missile artillery were reported. Along with that, armed provocations by the mercenaries continue along the demarcation line, except from the Luhansk region. The most tense spots were Shyrokyne near Mariupol and Hranitne villages. ... Over the past 24 hours, we lost one soldier and three were wounded in fighting," Lysenko said.

Monday, March 30, 2015  1:41 AM PDT

More than 20 Russian tanks enter Ukraine - ATO headquarters

   KIEV, March 30 (Ukrinform). --- 22 Russian tanks entered the territory of Ukraine on March28.

Deputy Commander of the anti-terrorist operation, Colonel Valentyn Fedychev said this, according to the press service of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.

"There is no limit to bandits' cynicism, as there is no limit to the falsity of their Russian patrons and organizers of the war in Donbas, represented by Russia's political leadership. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov claims Russia's 'noninvolvement' in the war in eastern Ukraine. And this is said against the entry of 22 tanks from the territory of the Russian Federation on March 28," Fedychev said.

According to him, the tanks were heading from the side of Gukovo checkpoint [in Rostov region] to a repair and engineering works in Sverdlovsk, Luhansk region.

Friday, March 27, 2015  9:22 AM PDT

Rozmaznin: OSCE and Russians confirm shelling of Ukraine army by rebels

   (Zik) --- The shelling of Novotoshkivka Ukraine army outpost was registered both by the OSCE monitors and Russians, Gen. Rozmaznin, head of Ukraine staff on the Ukraine/Russia contact group on the ceasefire, told, speaking on Kanal 5 March 29.

   The enemy attacked by Grad missiles in the Luhansk oblast, he said.

   The Russian representatives agreed that the violation of the ceasefire took place, the general said.