Ukraine War Update – 20/21 June 2015

Sunday, June 21, 2015  7:31 AM PDT

Transport access to Troitske blocked due to bridge explosion. PHOTOS

   (Censor.NET) --- Transport access to Troitske is blocked as a result of yesterday's explosion of the bridge on the outskirts of the village.

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

   This bridge, Moskal stressed, was used to transport humanitarian aid and food to Troitske village, since it was the only safe way to the village. Earlier it was damaged as a result of hostilities, but the maintenance crews managed to quickly repair it.

   There are two more bridges over Luhan River to Troitske, near

Myronivske and 'LPR'-held Kalynove villages. However, traffic movement is limited there due to regular shelling.

Sunday, June 21, 2015  4:31 AM PDT

OSCE observers spotted movement of terrorists' tanks, armoured vehicles, and SP guns – Lysenko

   (Censor.NET) --- OSCE SMM observers have reported on more violations of the Minsk cease-fire agreements by the terrorists.

   Representative of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine on ATO issues Colonel Andrii Lysenko reported at a briefing, Censor.NET informs.
   "The international monitors observed the following weapons movements in areas that are in violation of the withdrawal lines according to the Minsk Package: two main battle tanks (MBT) (T-72) on a flat-bed truck travelling west through 'DPR'-controlled Shakhtarsk and a convoy of four armoured vehicles and 11 MBTs (T-72) proceeding east through ' DPR'-controlled Zuhres," Lysenko said.
   According to him, UAVs of the SMM have also spotted ten tanks and 27 armoured vehicles in Komsomolske, as well as four self-propelled artillery pieces (likely 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika) near Vasylivka (Donetsk region).

Sunday, June 21, 2015  3:22 AM PDT

Two Ukrainian soldiers killed, six wounded yesterday

   (Censor.NET) --- Two soldiers were killed and six were wounded in the anti-terrorist operation area on June 20.

   Representative of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine on ATO issues Colonel Andrii Lysenko reported at a briefing, Censor.NET informs.
   "Over the past day, two Ukrainian soldiers were killed, six were wounded in combat activities, provocations and clashes," Lysenko said.

Sunday, June 21, 2015  1:52 AM PDT

Soldier wounded as militants fire at checkpoints from AGS, mortars, and sniper weapons

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants fired at border units, including those at checkpoints, seven times over the past 24 hours.

   Censor.NET reports citing the State Border Service.

   "Marinka checkpoint, shared by border guards and APU servicemen, was shelled twice. The bandits fired from from AGS and sniper weapons," the report reads. Russian mercenaries also fired at border guards' positions near Marinka from AGS, mortars, and sniper weapons.
   As a result, a border guard received light shrapnel wounds.
   The terrorists are also shelling Maiorske checkpoint from SPG recoilless gun. "From 7 till 11 a.m. the terrorists have shelled Hnutove checkpoint. Passenger traffic through Hnutove is suspended due to the shelling," the State Border Service wrote.

Sunday, June 21, 2015  1:52 AM PDT

OSCE confirms use of heavy artillery by Donbas rebels

   (Zik) --- OSCE observers have recorded shelling by rebels of Ukraine army positions from heavy artillery banned by the Minsk agreements, OSCE June 20 report runs.

   Ukraine army says the rebels shelled its positions 83 times during June 20, Ukrinform reports June 21.  

   “In Popasna, the territory controlled by the Ukrainian army, OSCE observers spotted 5 fresh craters from Grad 122-mm missiles,” the OSCE report says.

   The rebels denied access to OSCE to one of the sites where they were to keep their heavy artillery according to the Minsk agreements. However, from 20 m away, the observers could see that 6 of the 12 howitzers and 4 of the 9 mortars were missing.

   The mission registered the flare-up of shelling near the Donetsk airport and near Shyrokine near Mariupol, the OSCE report indicates.

Saturday 20 June 2015   22:34 PDT

Russia using its gas weapon against Ukraine

   (Zik) --- Lithuania is prepared to supply the natural gas to Ukraine from its recently built LNG-built but Russia is trying to prevent this, Lithuania Ambassador in Ukraine Marjus Yanukosis said June 20, speaking on Kanal 5 TV , UNN reported.

   “Ukraine has taken decisive steps toward energy safety by negotiating gas supplies from EU and raising its energy effectiveness,” the ambassador said. 

   “For our part we are ready to help Ukraine in this process, supplying gas from our LNG-terminal. Unfortunately, Russia’s Gazprom, the owner of gas pipelines, is using political leverage to torpedo these economic projects,” the ambassador said. 

   Earlier, Petro Poroshenko said Ukraine has contracts with over 10 gas supplies from EU.

   Russia announced plans to reduce the supplies of its gas to those EU countries which sell gas to Ukraine.

   In 2014, Ukraine saved $500 million thanks to the purchases of less expensive gas from EU.

Saturday 20 June 2015   3:51 AM PDT

No amnesty – no local elections in Donbas, rebels say

   (Zik) --- There can’t be any local elections in Donbas unless Ukraine declares amnesty to separatists, self-proclaimed Donetsk republic leader Denys Pushylin told journalists June 19 during talks in Minsk, Interfax reports June 20.

   “Everything is stalled because there is no amnesty law. No local elections can be held without this law,” he said.

   Pushylin ignored an important provision of the Minsk agreements whereby the amnesty can be declared only if the war stops and foreign troops leave Donbas.

Saturday 20 June 2015   3:51 AM PDT

ATO update: militants shell Ukrainian positions 50 times in last day

   KIEV, June 20 (Ukrinform). --- On Friday, the fighters of Russian-terrorist forces have violated the ceasefire in Donbas 50 times.

   The press center for the anti-terrorist operation reported this on its Facebook page.

   "On Friday's morning the militants shelled the positions of ATO forces near the town of Popasna using Grad multiple rocket launcher systems. The town of Zolote was shelled with 152mm howitzers two times. The Kremlin's mercenaries fired mortars at the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, the villages of Taramchuk, Berezove, and Opytne in the Donetsk sector, and also at the villages of Trekhizbenka, Heyiyvka and the town of Zolote 19 times," the report reads.

   In the evening the enemy tanks fired at the village of Opytne, the town of Avdyiyvka and the Butivka mine.

   Near the town of Shastia and the village of Lopaskyne, in the Luhansk sector, pro-Russian gangs entered into battles with our defenders. Sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the enemy were repelled and retreated with losses.

Saturday 20 June 2015   3:38 AM PDT

Donbas rebels pushing for amnesty

   (Zik) --- “The Minsk agreements have a provision obliging Ukraine to declare an amnesty for the separatists. However, according to the Geneva Convention, only minor crimes are subject to amnesty, and in the course of disarmament of the parties. Heavy criminals cannot qualify for an amnesty,” political expert Oleksandr Palij told Glavnoe June 20.

   Minor crimes include participation in guarding the infrastructure or construction work.

   Those with blood on their hands can’t be amnestied, the expert said.

   Demanding an amnesty, the separatists forget that in line with the Minsk agreements all foreigners have to leave the conflict zone - all Russian mercenaries, “volunteers” and others. When this provision is fulfilled, Ukraine will declare an amnesty,” the expert said.

Saturday 20 June 2015   3:12 AM PDT

Ukrainian border guards detained several saboteurs near Berezove.

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants’ subversive reconnaissance units (SRU) continue to attack Ukrainian soldiers.

   The press officer of the ATO Staff in the B sector Evhen Silkin said on Channel 5, Censor.NET reports citing UNIAN.    Ukrainian border guards detained four 'DPR' saboteurs near Berezove village late at night. It turns out that one of the saboteurs is a citizen of the Russian Federation, while the other three are citizens of Ukraine.
   "Ukrainian border guards detained four people who were spying on the ATO forces' positions near the village of Berezove. As it has turned out, all of them belong to the 'DPR' subversive reconnaissance unit. One militant has Russian passport with him," Silkin said.

Saturday 20 June 2015   3:02 AM PDT

Situation in Ukraine's eastern regions.

   KIEV, June 20 (Ukrinform). --- The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense. Despite the declared ceasefire, Russian-backed terrorists continue to fire at Ukrainian army positions and settlements in Donbas.

   The map reflecting the situation in Donbas as of 12.00 on June 20 has been released by the information and analytical center of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council.