Ukraine War Update - 29 June 2015

Monday, June 29, 2015  7:29 AM PDT

Unit of Russia's 6th tank brigade redeployed to Rostov region border between Russia and Ukraine.

   (Censor.NET) --- During OSINT monitoring of Ukraine-bordering part of the Rostov region, redeployment of new units of the 6th separate tank brigade (military unit 54096, deployed in Nizhniy Novgorod, Mulino) of the Western Military District was revealed.

   This was announced by investigative blogger Iraklii Komakhidze in his article for InformNapalm, Censor.NET reports.

   According to received information, the unit was redeployed to the Rostov region before June 20, 2015. It allegedly consists of a tank company, temporarily deployed in Myasnikovskyi district. Rostov region, including mechanized infantry, artillery, and support units.

Information on personnel is being specified. It is possible that together
with tank men, a full tactical group of the 6th tank brigade has been redeployed to the Rostov region, including mechanized infantry, artillery, and support units.

   As reported earlier, this is not the first trip of Mulino tank men to the Rostov region. In fall 2014, a combined unit of the 6th tank brigade with large-dotted marking signs was seen in one of the field camps of the Russian group of troops in Matveevo-Kurganskyi district of the Rostov region. Hit and burned tanks of the same brigade were noticed in Ukraine. Moreover, there is a video by Ukrainian soldiers that shows militant of this tank brigade being interrogated.

   After fall-winter rotation, tanks of the Mulino brigade have not been Rostov region. Chances are that the remaining equipment was taken away for repair. Now, tanks of the 6th tank brigade were redeployed to the Ukrainian border again within another rotation.
   "Names and faces of Russian soldiers from the 6th tank brigade were concealed in order to secure them from FSB-related wipers [who delete social network images and content after it is being revealed - ed.], so we have chances to follow the unit further," Komakhidze wrote.

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Monday, June 29, 2015  5:52 AM PDT

Russian-backed militants launch more than 100 attacks in 24 hours

   (Ukraine Today) --- Five Ukrainian soldiers wounded in east Ukraine over last 24 hours

   Ukrainian military spokesmen say Russian-backed militants continue to step up their attacks on Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine, launching more than 100 assaults over the past 24 hours.

   The bulk of the attacks came last evening, with the militants firing about 70 times on the positions of Ukrainian forces and on Ukrainian-held towns in just six hours, from 18:00 to midnight on Sunday.

   The number of militant attacks reported by the Ukrainian military has been steadily growing over the last month, and has now reached levels not seen since before a ceasefire was supposed to have come into effect on February 15.

Monday, June 29, 2015  5:25 AM PDT

No servicemen killed over the past day. Five soldiers were wounded - ATO speaker

   (Censor.NET) --- There were no losses among the Ukrainian servicemen in the area of the anti-terrorist operation yesterday, five soldiers were injured.

   Presidential Administration speaker on ATO Andrii Lysenko said at a briefing, Censor.NET reports citing 112 Ukraine television channel.

   "The Ukrainian servicemen have not suffered battle losses for the last 24 hours, five soldiers have been wounded," he said.

   Lysenko also reported that the militants are trying to move closer towards the line of contact. In addition, the terrorists continue conducting aerial reconnaissance.

   According to the speaker, the intensity of attacks on the part of the illegal armed groups is growing. The terrorists also keep using weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements.

Monday, June 29, 2015  4:57 AM PDT

Clash with terrorists took place near Novotoshkivske. They retreated after suffering losses, - ATO press-center

   (Censor.NET) --- The situation in the zone of the ATO remains tense showing signs of worsening in certain areas. However, it is controlled by the Ukrainian army.

   Censor.NET informs citing the situation report by the ATO press-center.

   According to the HQ, militants of the pro-Russian hybrid gangs have intensified their criminal activities greatly in the evening and at night having previously showed its relative decrease during the previous day.

   "The invaders opened fire on positions of the Ukrainian troops and infrastructure facilities of cities and villages about 70 times from 6 p.m. till midnight yesterday. The enemy has committed 101 armed provocations against the ATO forces during just one day," the statement reads.

   "Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Avdiivka, Opytne, and Butovka mine in the Donetsk region were repeatedly fired at from 82-mm and banned 120-mm mortars. The enemy tanks were also employed in attacks on these villages.

   "Stanytsia Luhanska, Zolote, Krymske, and Novotoshkivske in the Luhansk region were repeatedly shelled from mortars and grenade launchers.

   "A group of 35 militants of the illegal armed group was spotted near Novotoshkivske in the evening. The perpetrators engaged in battle with the Ukrainian soldiers. But our soldiers did not leave them a slightest chance to succeed. The bandits retreated having suffered losses.

   "There were attacks recorded not far from Artemivsk as well. The Kremlin mercenaries were trying to overcome our defenders deployed in Kirove, Maiorsk, and Leninske using mortars, heavy machine guns, rocket launchers and small arms.

   "The Russian-terrorist forces used 120-mm mortars prohibited by the Minsk agreements, rocket launchers, and small arms six times committing attacks on the outskirts of the Mariupol.

   "The invaders kept committing crimes with the use of weapons after midnight. Most of the 15 reported cases were carried out near Donetsk," the press center reported.

   The HQ also noted that "yesterday, a number of media have spread false information that Ukrainian army has allegedly left Mariupol": "By reason of incompetence or lack of understanding of military terminology, some outlets, in particular the online ones, have played into our enemy's hands and misled a certain part of society. In fact, the bandits has shelled and destroyed the observation post of the Joint Centre for the Control and Coordination of the Ceasefire near Berdianske village, June 26. Therefore, the observers were forced to change their place of deployment. Any checkpoint or stronghold of the ATO forces was not meant."

   "Any Ukrainian soldier serving in the outskirts of Mariupol as well as along the entire demarcation line has not made a single step back from one's position. Despite numerous attacks conducted by the pro-Russian gangs from the temporarily occupied territories, the situation in this sector is under the full control of the ATO forces. And we are not going to surrender a single inch of our land," the press center added.

Monday, June 29, 2015  1:10 AM PDT

Rebels mount surveillance cameras on roofs of civilian houses to follow up movements of Ukrainian army

   (Zik) --- Donbas rebels mount cameras on the roofs of private houses in the touchline area to follow up on the movements of Ukrainian army, Ukraine army spokesman says.

   They use surveillance results to continuously shell Ukraine army concentrations of heavy weapons and personnel along the entire touchline, TCH reported. 

   June 28, the hottest areas were near Opytne, Butivska mine and Zenith. 

Monday, June 29, 2015  12:45 AM PDT

Russian serviceman posts video how AA Buk missiles were deployed to Donbas

   (Zik) --- A Russian soldier, one of the drivers of a platform on which an AA Buk missile launcher that downed the Malaysian passenger jet was transported to Donbas, posted his video footage on the internet, gogetnews.info reports June 29.

   The footage was placed on the “In Contact” networks by a Russian army driver belonging to 147th haulage battalion. 

   The Malaysian jet, carrying 298 passengers and crew, was shot down over Donbas by an AA missile, investigators proved. The only weapon available in Donbas and capable of downing a plane flying at the height of 10 km is the Buk missile system.

Monday, June 29, 2015  12:03 AM PDT

Frictions rising between local rebels and Russian mercenaries

   (Zik) --- Russian troops disguised as mercenaries deploy weapons amid residential areas, much to the regret of local terrorists. Conflicts between the Russians and locals are getting stronger, said Ukraine army spokesman June 28, speaking to journalists.

   According to intelligence reports, those insisting on deploying artillery and tanks amid residential areas in Donbas are the Russian mercenaries.

   The locals who are members of the rebel troops have no say against the Russians.

   Meanwhile, more and more locals defect the rebel forces because of the lack of funding. In Horlivka, for instance, rebel troops have not been paid in 3 months.

   All this makes it more difficult for the Kremlin to rely on local separatists, forcing Moscow to send more Russian troops disguised as advisers or mercenaries.

   The Russians and local leaders continue plundering Donbas. Farmers, to continue in business, have to pay UAH1,000 for each hectare of their land to rebels.