Ukraine War Update - 14 February 2015

Saturday, February 14, 2015  6:43 AM PST

Shkiryak: City of Debaltseve turns into new Stalingrad as Putin orders it

   KIEV, February 14 (Ukrinform). --- Debaltseve city is burning. Shelling from all types of artillery by the Armed Forces of Russian Federation never ceases.

   The news is reported by adviser to Ukraine's Minister of the Interior Zorian Shkiryak on his Facebook page.

   "Almost all office buildings have been ruined, hundreds of private houses are destroyed and entire residential neighbourhoods. The enemy attacked city police station building with MLRS BM-21 Grad rockets. Several shells hit the building. There is a considerable damage to the building. After all, Debaltseve police continue to serve," the statement said.

   As stated today at the press center of anti-terrorist operation in the Donbas conflict zone, the highest number of attacks have been recorded in Debaltseve areas.

Saturday, February 14, 2015  5:41 AM PST

Militants revealed another proof of Russian presence in Donbas.

   (Censor.NET) --- The terrorists physically prove the presence of Russian weapons in the Donbas.

   Censor.NET reports referring to the Ministry of Defense.

   The militants' Novorossia TV channel recently reported the discovery of Ukrainian Grad rocket systems and 122-mm rockets in the ATO zone. You can see them on the photos.

   The terrorist nicknamed Sentiabr reading the ammunition box contents list, sighed by Ukrainian soldiers - major Kolosovskyi, captain Churilov, and lieutenant commander Hiss.
   The Ministry of Defense clarified that abovementioned soldiers served in the Army А2327 unit based in the Crimea. Thus, they have really signed the content lists, but in November-December 2013. Afterwards, the ammunition boxes were warehoused until Russian invasion to the peninsula in March 2014. It seems quite clear that the Grad rocket systems and 122-mm rockets were transported to the Donbas from the Crimea by Russian troops.

Saturday, February 14, 2015   4:25 AM PST

Russian helicopter flies into Ukrainian air space on Friday, Lysenko says

   KIEV, February 14 (Ukrinform). --- An unmarked helicopter flew into the territory of Ukraine in Luhansk region and then returned to Russia.

   The spokesman for anti-terrorist operation in the Donbas conflict zone Andriy Lysenko told journalists at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

   "Yesterday at 9:35, the border guards recorded the fact of Ukrainian air space violation by an unmarked helicopter flying 2.5-3 kilometers inside Ukraine at an altitude of 400 meters above the village of Krasna Talakivka in Luhansk region. Afterwards, it returned to the territory of the Russian Federation," Lysenko said.

   In addition, there were reported 14 episodes of enemy drones deployed over Donbas areas in the past 24 hour period.

"As we can see, most aerial reconnaissance efforts are focused on the southern areas of Donetsk region.

Saturday, February 14, 2015  3:16 AM PST

Seven Ukrainian soldiers killed, 23 injured over last 24 hours – NSDC

   (Censor.NET) --- 23 soldiers were wounded and seven were killed in the ATO zone on Feb. 13.

   Andrii Lysenko, Speaker of the National Security and Defense Council, reported at a briefing today, Censor.NET informs.

   "Seven Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 23 were injured over the last 24 hours," Lysenko said.

Saturday, February 14, 2015  2:23 AM PST

Debaltseve salient. Situation report as of Feb.14, 10 a.m. - Butusov

   (Censor.NET) --- The Debaltseve bridgehead is controlled by Ukrainian troops. Attacks at Debaltseve town have been repulsed, as well as from Chornukhyne village. On Feb.12-13, Russian troops attempted to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops near Novohryhorivka village. The situation took a bad turn yesterday morning, when enemy armoured vehicles cut behind the Army and surrounded one of the strongholds. The ATO forces delivered a counterattack and destroyed the enemy in the evening. Communication was restored and Ukrainian positions were reinforced.

   This was stated by Censor.NET editor-in-chief Yurii Butusov on his Facebook page.
   "The terrorists still control Lohvynove-Kalynivka area. The attacks of Ukrainian troops were repulsed. The enemy was able to strengthen positions a result of inactivity of the Army command on Feb. 9-10.
   "Today, on Feb. 14, the intensity of the artillery attacks at Ukrainian positions declined slightly. There is no threat of the enemy's breakout. The ATO forces hold the line firmly. The efficiency of Ukrainian artillery significantly increased in the evening on Feb.13. It would be good to keep it on the same level.

   "The situation remains extremely dangerous. The enemy who controls Lohvynove has real chances to encircle Ukrainian troops and block supply transportation in case the cease-fire would be followed by the end of the day. If our troops hadn't repelled yesterday's attack at Debaltseve bridgehead, the Minsk agreements would have been signed on quite different conditions.

   Thanks you, heroes!," Butusov wrote.

Saturday, February 14, 2015  2:17 AM PST

Terrorists shelled Debaltseve police department with Grad rocket system setting town on fire

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants continue to shell the town of Debaltseve in the Donetsk region.

   Censor.NET reports referring to the head of the Donetsk Regional Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Viacheslav Abroskin's Facebook page.

   "The terrorists are destroying Debaltseve town. They continuously shell private houses. The town is on fire. Debaltseve police department was shelled with Grad rocket system," Abroskin wrote.

Saturday, February 14, 2015  12:59 AM PST

Russian tanks spotted near Debaltseve and more military hardware along the border.

   (Censor.NET) --- Russian military has air defense systems deployed near Debaltseve and prepared a large shipment of supplies to the militants.

   Censor.NET reports citing US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt's Twitter. "We are confident these are Russian military, not separatist, systems," Pyatt wrote referring to satellite images he has published.

   "Russian military also has air defense systems deployed near Debaltseve and Russian units along the border are preparing a large shipment of supplies to separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine," Pyatt wrote.

Saturday, February 14, 2015  12:34 AM PST

Russian column of armoured vehicles entered Ukraine through Novoazovsk town

   (Censor.NET) --- Azov regiment spotted the enemy’s column of armoured vehicles in the town of Novoazovsk.

   Censor.NET reports citing Azov regiment's official Facebook page.
   "The intelligence reports: a column of enemy armoured vehicles entered Ukraine through Novoazovsk town. There are no marking on the Russian vehicles. Information about the column movement is being specified," the statement reads.

Friday, February 13, 2015  23:14 PST

Ukrainian soldiers eliminated about 100 terrorists last night

   (Censor.NET) --- Terrorists suffered significant losses confronting the Armed Forces of Ukraine

   According to the intelligence data, about 100 terrorists were killed and 180 wounded over the last 24 hours, Censor.NET reports citing the ATO press center.

   "The enemy shell civil population in villages and towns with Grad rocket systems. The terrorists killed six people in the town of Shchastia, five in Hirnyk town and three more in Artemivka village yesterday. We are talking about unarmed civilians and they were killed on their native land by those who call themselves ' Donbas defenders'," the statement reads.

Friday, February 13, 2015  14:26 PST

Russia pulls in troops and equipment to Debaltseve - US Department of State

   (Censor.NET) --- The United States accused Russia on Friday of massing artillery and rocket systems around a contested town in eastern Ukraine and joining pro-Russian rebels in attacking Ukrainian forces, calling such actions a violation of the spirit of a cease-fire agreement signed just one day earlier.

   Censor.NET reports citing The New York Times.

   The accusation, made by the State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, also said that the Russian military had deployed air defense systems near the town of Debaltseve. Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in Debaltseve have been reported to be surrounded by pro-Russian terrorists and fighting has escalated there ahead of the scheduled Saturday night start of the cease-fire.

   "The Russian military has deployed a large amount of artillery and multiple rocket launcher systems around Debaltseve, where it is shelling Ukrainian positions," Ms. Psaki said, reading a prepared statement. "We are confident that these are Russian military, not separatist systems."

   Ms. Psaki also said that the United States had reliable reports that Russia was preparing a large shipment of supplies to pro-Russian forces fighting in Ukraine.

   This was the first time that the Obama administration has accused Russia of taking a direct hand in an assault on Ukrainian forces since the cease-fire agreement was signed.

   The Russians, who have insisted they are not assisting the separatists, helped negotiate the truce agreement reached on Thursday in Minsk, Belarus - the second in the nearly year-old eastern Ukraine war - which calls for a formal halt to hostilities at midnight Saturday.

   American officials said that the attack on Debaltseve, a strategically important railroad hub midway between the main militants-held cities of Luhansk and Donetsk, was a violation of the spirit of that agreement.

   American officials warned the Kremlin and the separatists not to try to seize new territory before the cease-fire takes effect.

Friday, February 13, 2015  12:52 PST

Ukrainian servicemen downed Russian UAV over Kramatorsk.

   (Censor.NET) --- The Ukrainian military shot down Orlan-10, the Russian unmanned aerial vehicle which was flying over Kramatorsk.

   The Russian terrorists adjusted artillery strikes on Kramatorsk and its suburbs using this drone, Censor.NET reports.

Friday, February 13, 2015  12:25 PST

79th Brigade destroyed militants’ assault force in the Donetsk airport and took a dozen prisoners - Biriukov

   (Censor.NET) --- The first group of terrorists was allowed to approach, and then destroyed. The captured militants trapped their comrades requesting reinforcements.

   Adviser to the president Yurii Biriukov wrote on his Facebook page, Censor.NET reports.

   "I rarely hype the 79th Airmobile Brigade. I mean it! Considering Brigade's achievements - they indeed are deprived of media attention and awards. We will fix this once, as soon as we are allowed to disclose more information on their deeds," he wrote.

   "The separatists so often and so loudly boasted that they have seized the Donetsk airport that they themselves must have believed it. The relaxed militants headed towards meteorological tower today. The first group was allowed to approach, and then destroyed. Several militants were taken prisoner and asked to request reinforcements on the radio. The reinforcements arrived being led into battle by Givi's (militants' group chieftain - Ed.) deputy. The result was the same plus a dozen prisoners," the adviser to the president wrote.

   "The terrorists' control of the Donetsk airport resulted in numerous eliminated militants (including the commander of the assault force) and a dozen prisoners. And this is just one of the episodes for today," Biriukov summed up.