Ukraine War Update - 4 July 2015

Saturday, July 4, 2015  7:25 AM PDT

Terrorist sabotage groups intensified attacks in Luhansk sector

   (Censor.NET) --- The terrorists' sabotage and reconnaissance groups groups became more active again in the Luhansk sector.

   Ukrainian soldiers once again repelled an attack of 10 militants near Shchastia town in the Luhansk region, Presidential Administration speaker on ATO matters Andrii Lysenko stated, Censor.NET reports.
   The militants continue to attack with heavy weapons. The mortared ATO forces' positions near Novotoshkivske three times and fired from 152mm artillery guns at ATO forces' positions near Triokhizbenka.
   "Let us remind that the militants often use heavy weapons at night not to attract attention of OSCE observers and other parties who control the implementation of the Minsk agreements," Lysenko said.
   "In the Donetsk sector, the terrorists fired at Opytne (Donetsk airport area) from 120mm mortars, 122mm and 152mm artillery, heavy weapons, and sniper weapons from morning till 9 p.m. They also fired at Pisky, Marinka, Krasnohorivka, Sanzharivka, Troitske, and Horlivka outskirts," he added.
   It was relatively calm in the Mariupol sector. The militants fired from 120mm mortars at ATO forces' positions near Novotroitske.

Saturday, July 4, 2015  6:35 AM PDT

NATO: Russia ready to use force against Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova

   (UNIAN) --- In an exclusive interview, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tells German news broadcaster Deutsche Welle about NATO's defense posture, which is proportionate and in line with the Alliance's international commitments, and he claims that Russia is ready to use force against its neighbours.

   "Everything we do is defensive. We're protecting the allies. Russia is behaving aggressively. The annexation of Crimea is an aggressive behavior. Russia continues providing separatists in eastern Ukraine with modern weapons, anti-aircraft systems, sends troops there – this is an act of aggression. We protect our allies, Russia uses force to redraw the borders and destabilize Ukraine," Stoltenberg said, as reported by DW.

   According to him, Russia is ready to use force against Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova.

   "Russia is ready to use force against Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. Russia more often mentions nuclear weapons as part of its defense strategy," NATO's chief said.

   According to Stoltenberg, NATO is responding to new security challenges in a defensive way, which is proportionate and in line with the alliance's international commitments.

   "We have increased the preparedness and readiness of our forces. We have strengthened our military presence on the eastern borders of the alliance. We have decided to set up a network of smaller headquarters in the Baltic States, Bulgaria, Poland and Romania. We have also stepped up our air patrols and presence in the eastern countries of the alliance in response to Russia's behavior," Stoltenberg said.

   At this, Moscow now has a better-equipped and better-prepared army, he added.

   "What is more, they conduct unexpected maneuvers to conceal aggressive actions against its neighbours. That is how Crimea was annexed," Stoltenberg said.

   Therefore, by addressing these threats, NATO has been strengthening its military capabilities, being unprecedented since the end of the Cold War, according to Stoltenberg.

Saturday, July 4, 2015  5:04 AM PDT

One soldier killed and two injured over past 24 hours

   (Censor.NET) --- One Ukrainian soldier was killed in the ATO zone on July 3.

   Representative of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine on ATO issues Colonel Andrii Lysenko said at a briefing, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrainski novyny
   "Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded over the past 24 hours, " Lysenko said.

Saturday, July 4, 2015  2:25 AM PDT

June 3, rebel/Russian troops violated ceasefire 37 times.

   (Zik) --- Near Novotoshkivske, the enemy used 120-mm mortars and 122-mm artillery guns to shell Ukraine army positions, the army spokesman says.

   The shelling also took place near Stanytsya Luhanska, Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, Maiorsk and Troyitske.

   The hottest shelling on June 3 was near Opytne.

   Ukraine army repulsed using artillery allowed by the Minsk agreements.

Saturday, July 4, 2015  2:06 AM PDT

Bomb exploded in Batkivshchyna’s office in Sumy.

   (Censor.NET) --- A bomb exploded at the office of the Batkivshchyna party (9 Hasety Pravda St.) in the town of Sumy last night (2:55 a.m.). Police officers qualify the incident as a terrorist attack.

   Censor.NET reports citing t he press service of the State Ministry of Interior of Ukraine in Sumy region.

   There are no causalities among civilians. The SBU, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Prosecutor's Office officials are investigating the scene.

Saturday, July 4, 2015  1:39 AM PDT

Russian-backed terrorists attacked Shchastia and Opytne

   (Censor.NET) --- The Army completely controls the situation in the ATO zone. The militants violated the cease-fire for about 37 times over the last 24 hours.

   Censor.NET reports citing the ATO press center.

   The militants shelled Ukrainian soldiers at Novotoshkivka (at 9 p.m.) and Novhorodske (at 10 p.m.) villages with 120-mm mortars yesterday.

   The villages of Stanytsia Luhanska, Marinka, Troitske, Rozsadky were also attacked by the militants.
   Yesterday, Opytne village became the hottest spot of the ATO zone. Ukrainian soldiers were fired from different types of weapons. Militants' sniper was also spotted at the scene. The terrorists fired at Pisky village from IFV.

   Ukrainian soldiers repelled an attack of the militants' subversive reconnaissance unit (SRU) near Shchastia at 5.10 p.m.
   The militants kept on attacking Ukrainian soldiers after the midnight. Krymske village was shelled with 120-mm mortars twice. The village of Novotoshkivka was fire from 120-mm mortars, 122-mm guns and tank.