Ukraine War Update - 18 April 2015

Saturday, April 18, 2015  7:06 AM PDT

Kiev lists Russian military units allegedly in Ukraine

   Kiev (AFP) --- Ukraine's army chief of staff on Saturday listed for the first time some of the specific Russian military units alleged to be fighting against Kiev alongside pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine.

   "Regular Russian army troops are still in Ukraine" despite a ceasefire agreement signed in February which ordered the withdrawal of foreign fighters from the front, Viktor Muzhenko said in an interview published by Ukraine's defence ministry.

   Russia has repeatedly denied claims by Kiev and the West that it is arming and sending troops to help separatists who have gained control of parts of the east.

   Muzhenko insisted: "We have details of all the Russian units, where they are deployed, their numbers and their weapons," he said.

   He named among them the Russian army's 15th Mechanised Infantry Brigade, the 8th Mechanised Infantry Brigade, the 331st Airborne Regiment and the 98th Airborne Division.

   He said he had "proof" that Russian regular troops had fought in three clashes in the east in February, including a fierce battle for the rail hub town of Debaltseve, which is now controlled by the separatists.

   France and Germany brokered the ceasefire agreement on February 12 but heavy arms fire at the front between Ukrainian government and pro-Russian forces is still rumbling on in the east.

   The year-long conflict has killed more than 6,000 people, according to the United Nations.

   Despite the West's repeated allegations, no definitive measure of the scale of alleged Russian involvement in the fighting has emerged. Moscow has said any Russians involved must be volunteers who have gone to Ukraine without state backing.

   However, independent military experts say there is considerable evidence of highly sophisticated weaponry being used on the rebel side and other signs of professional involvement in what bills itself as a homegrown insurgency.

Saturday, April 18, 2015  4:56 AM PDT

Triokhizbenka Update ----- Attack on Triokhizbenka repelled

   KIEV, April 18 (Ukrinform). --- Fighting in Triokhizbenka village in Luhansk region is over, the militants' attack has been repelled.

   This has been reported by press office of Head of Luhansk Regional Military and Civil Administration Hennady Moskal.

   "At 12:20, fighting in Triokhizbenka was over. As a reminder, today at 10:30, the militants came to the destroyed bridge over the Siversky Donets River and tried to break through the demarcation line to Triokhizbenka. The fighting started and lasted more than two hours. During the clash, the militants used sub-machine guns, heavy machine guns, mortars, grenade launchers and rapid-fire anti-aircraft guns," the report says.

   According to preliminary data, some Ukrainian servicemen have been wounded. 

Saturday, April 18, 2015  4:09 AM PDT

One Ukrainian soldier wounded, no one killed over last 24 hours

   (Censor.NET) --- One Ukrainian soldier was wounded and no one killed in the ATO zone on April 20.

   Andrii Lysenko, speaker of the National Security and Defense Council announced today at a briefing, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrainski novyny
   "A soldier was injured near Horlivka town in the Donetsk region," Lysenko said.

Saturday, April 18, 2015  3:28 AM PDT

Battle is going on in Triokhizbenka

   (Censor.NET) --- A battle has begun between Ukrainian soldiers and the terrorists in Triokhizbenka village (Luhansk region) at 10:30 a.m. on April 18.

   Censor.NET reports citing head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Hennadii Moskal official website.

   According to him, as of 11.00 a.m. the battle is going on.
   "The militants unit arrived to the destroyed bridge over Siverskyi Donets River, and is firing at the Army's positions from mortars, heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft gun. Ukrainian soldiers fire back," the report says.
   Information about the victims has not yet been reported.

Saturday, April 18, 2015  2:35 AM PDT

Terrorists fired from tanks, anti-aircraft mounts, automatic grenade launchers, and artillery near Avdiivka

   (Censor.NET) --- Armed terrorists' provocations continued in the ATO area on April 17.

   The terrorists shelled ATO forces positions along the demarcation line 24 times, mostly with mortars, Censor.NET reports citing the ATO press center.

   In the Donetsk region, the terrorists fired at ATO strongholds with 120mm mortars near the villages of Pisky and Hranytne, as well as Avdiivka and Mykolaivka towns.

   Besides, they fired at Ukrainian troops near Avdiivka with tanks, anti-aircraft mounts, and automatic grenade launchers since 5 p.m. and with 122mm artillery since 5 p.m.
   Тhe militants also shelled a Ukrainian stronghold near Leninske (Donetsk region) with 120mm mortars, a tank, automatic grenade launchers, and anti-tank weapons.
   Ukrainian troops' positions near Shchastia town and Syze village in the Luhansk region were mortared. The positions near Krymske village were shelled with automatic grenade launchers.

   Civilians suffered from terrorist shelling once again: Hranytne village (Donetsk region) was shelled with 120mm mortars from 10.40 till 11.20 a.m., while Pisky village was fired with small arms.

Saturday, April 18, 2015  12:07 AM PDT

Another Russian military equipment column entered Luhansk

   (Censor.NET) --- Co-Chair of the non-government initiative ‘Prava Sprava’ Dmytro Snehiriov reported about another column of Russian military equipment which entered the city of Luhansk.

   Censor.NET reports citing Espreso.TV.

   "Russian soldiers and military equipment column entered Luhansk yesterday. They are currently deployed in the city jail, Snehiriov said.

   "I suppose there are soldiers of the 15th 'peacekeeping' brigade from Samara in this column," he added.

Friday, April 17, 2015  21:18 PDT

Lukashenka Declines Invitation To Moscow Victory Day Parade

   (RFE/RL) --- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says he will travel to Moscow to participate in events marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe on May 7 and 8, but he will not attend a Victory Day military parade in the Russian capital on May 9.

   In an interview with Russia's ITAR-TASS, Lukashenka said he will preside over a Victory Day parade in Minsk on May 9 instead. 

   Belarus has traditionally been one of Russia's closest allies, but Lukashenka has been critical of Moscow's policies regarding Ukraine.

   The Belarusian president, however, criticized politicians who have refused to travel to Moscow because of the conflict in Ukraine, saying that it is "an incorrect move" against "the Soviet people and the people of Eastern Europe, who we at that time liberated." 

   Representatives of about 25 countries -- including India, China, Serbia, and North Korea -- have confirmed that they will attend the May 9 parade in Moscow.

Friday, April 17, 2015  18:13 PDT

Crimean City Cuts Off Ukrainian TV Channels

   (RFE/RL) --- The main cable-television provider in the city of Yevpatoria, in the Ukrainian region of Crimea that was annexed by Russia in March 2014, has stopped distributing five Ukrainian television channels.

   According to a press release by the Elas cable operator on April 17, the 2+2, First National, STB, Ukraine, and Enter-Film channels were cut off because they do not have registration from the Russian government.

   Ukraine's Inter + is now the only Ukrianian television channel available in Yevpatoria.

   Earlier this month, the de facto Russian authorities in Crimea closed down the Crimean Tatar-language television channel ATR in Simferpol after it was unable to secure registration despite applying for it repeatedly.

   Amnesty International called the closure of ATR and other Crimean Tatar media "a blatant attack on freedom of expression, dressed up as an administrative procedure" and "a crude attempt to stifle independent media."