Ukraine War Update - 17 February 2015

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  7:48 AM PST

Street fighting underway in Debaltseve, part of the city seized by the terrorists - Joint Staff

   (Censor.NET) --- Active hostilities are underway in Debaltseve, the Donetsk region. Ukrainian military maneuver with units and fire in order to deter the enemy's aggression.

   This was announced by the press service of the Ukrainian Army's Joint Staff, Censor.NET reports.
   "Street fighting is underway in Debaltseve, the Donetsk region; the terrorists attack the city with assault teams supported by artillery and armoured vehicles. Part of the city has been seized by the terrorists. At the moment, the ATO forces are maneuvering with units and fire, and deter the enemy's aggression," the Joint Staff reported.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  7:47 AM PST

Belarusian Security Forces Prevent Attempted Illegal Border Crossing

   (RFE/RL) --- Authorities in Minsk say about 20 unknown individuals have tried to illegally enter Belarusian territory from Ukraine.

   The Border Guard Committee said on February 17 that the incident took place overnight in the southwestern district of Korbin bordering Ukraine. 

   Committee officials said security forces fired at the suspects after they crossed into Belarus, wounding several of them.

   They said those attempting the crossing, including the wounded, retreated back into Ukrainian territory after being fired upon, leaving four horses behind on the Belarusian side. 

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  7:41 AM PST

Militants seize some buildings in Debaltseve, fighting continues – ATO HQ

   (Interfax) --- Militants have seized several buildings in the town of Debaltseve of Donetsk region, anti-terrorist operation (ATO) HQ spokesman Anatoliy Stelmakh has said.

   "Fighting is underway in the town. The enemy is shelling Ukrainian military forces, having captured several buildings. We won't name them so far. At the same time, we've redeployed our troops, the operation in the town goes on," he told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

   When asked about the situation on the Artemivsk-Debaltseve road he said: "It’s partially under our control."

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  7:21 AM PST

Battery of three 120-mm Russian mortars spotted near Debaltseve.

   (Censor.NET) --- Terrorists are using Russian artillery 2B16 Nona-K near Debaltseve.

   This was reported by Ukrainian blogger Serhii Holubnychyi, Censor.NET informs.

   "Here is something for those who continues to believe there are no Russian troops and weapons in Ukraine, and that only separatists fight in the Donbas. A battery of three 120-mm mortars 2B16 Nona-K of the 'DPR' separatists (Russian invasion forces) near Debaltseve. This is February 2015," the blogger wrote.

   "For those uniformed: as of 2012, Ukraine only had two (TWO) of 120-mm mortars 2B16 Nona-K (Military Balance 2012, page 166)," the blogger explained.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  7:10 AM PST

Terrorists shell Ukrainian military 164 times since beginning of 'ceasefire'

   KIEV, February 17 (Ukrinform). --- Since the beginning of "ceasefire" terrorists fired at positions of the anti-terrorist operation forces 164 times.

   Spokesman for the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing in Kiev on Tuesday.

   "Terrorists and Russian military fired at ATO positions 164 times since the Minsk agreements had entered into force at 00:00 on February 15, 2015," Lysenko said.

   According to him, the illegal armed groups are trying to provoke the Ukrainian military to open a return fire, in order to hold the Ukrainian side responsible for the breakdown of the truce.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  6:49 AM PST

Militants want to encircle Debaltseve, avoid implementing Minsk agreements – Chaly

   (Interfax) --- The Ukrainian presidential administration has said that militants are trying to encircle Debaltseve (Donetsk region) and avoid the implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

   "Using a ceasefire and the start of the troops withdrawal, the militants under the support of Russia want in fact to encircle Debaltseve, and in this way to destroy all opportunities for the further process of fulfilling these agreements," deputy head of presidential administration Valeriy Chaly said at a briefing on Tuesday.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  6:13 AM PST

Germany buys 50 mine detectors for State Emergency Service of Ukraine – embassy

   (Interfax) --- The German embassy has bought 50 mine detectors for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the German embassy in Kiev has reported.

   The detectors are worth EUR 100,000 and were bought by the German federal government as requested by the Ukrainian government, reads the statement posted on the embassy's website.

   According to the statement, the mine detectors will be presented to Ukraine by German Ambassador to Ukraine Christof Weil on Tuesday, February 17.

   The detectors can reach a depth of one meter and are intended for clearing mines in eastern Ukraine, reads the statement.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  4:03 AM PST

Militants committed artillery attack on Popasna. Active hostilities under way near Chornukhyne - Luhansk governor

   (Censor.NET) --- It was relatively calm on the government-controlled territory of the Luhansk region yesterday, Feb. 16, but the fire has not been ceased completely.

   The village of Popasna came under shelling (the outskirts of the city, where the strong points of the Ukrainian troops' are deployed, were hit by the terrorists' artillery), Censor.NET reports citing the press service of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Head Hennadii Moskal. Moreover, active hostilities are under way near Chornukhyne village (the Debaltseve direction).

   There is no information on civilian casualties.

   "The period of relative calm is used to restore vital service systems damaged by the militants' attacks earlier. There are 27 high-rise buildings without central heating in the city of Shchastia. The heat supply will be restored there until the end of the day," Moskal said.

   Three elderly people, including one physically challenged, were evacuated from the village of Krymske by the Ukrainian military (the village is located in the Novoaidar district near the 31st checkpoint). 300 local residents of about 2,000 still refuse to leave, among them six children from 3 to 15 years old.

   The villages of Toshkivka, Nyzhnie, Krymske, and Svitlychne are currently without gas supply as the pipeline on Bakhmutka road near the 29th checkpoint was damaged by the militants' shelling.

   The representatives of local authorities are currently draining water from the central heating system to keep it from freezing (it was 16 degrees below zero in Luhansk in the morning). The repair crews were sent to the area, however, it is still unknown when the gas supply may be restored.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  4:01 AM PST

Kiev denies surrender of Ukrainian soldiers in Debaltseve

   (Interfax) --- A spokesman for the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine has dismissed reports about Ukrainian troops surrendering in the town of Debaltseve in Donetsk region, where fierce fighting continues near a local train station.

   "Pro-Russia propagandists [...] claim that we have already surrendered and that we are already asking for a corridor. In reality, the situation looks different. The enemy has been losing ever more of its live force and equipment, and the firing support by artillery continues," Andriy Lysenko told a press conference in Kiev on Tuesday.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  2:29 AM PST

Terrorists keep shelling Ukrainian Army positions: the militants make every effort to seize Debaltseve - ATO press center

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants continue conducting massive artillery strikes on the Ukrainian army positions in the Donbas.

   Censor.NET informs citing the ATO press center latest situation report.

   "The situation was tense at the Luhansk direction during the night of Feb. 17. The illegal armed groups violated the cease-fire four times.

   "The bandits used BM-21 Grad three times. In particular, about 80 Grad rockets inflicted damage to the Armed Forces of Ukraine positions in the area of Bakhmutka road, and nearly 40 missiles impacted Novotoshkivske village. The illegal armed groups also shelled the ATO forces positions near the village of Zolote from mortars. No military casualties were recorded as a result.

   "The adepts of the "Russian world" continue provoking the Ukrainian military to open fire and violate truce. The terrorists also keep destroying the infrastructure of cities and villages in the Donbas controlled by the Ukrainian government.

   "It should be noted that the Russian mercenaries did not commit attacks at daytime yesterday and launched hostilities only in the dark.

   "There was a slight decrease in the number of attacks on the Ukrainian troops' positions in the anti-terrorist operation area during the night of Feb. 17.

   "At the same time, the terrorists have focused on Debaltseve direction. The villages of Popasna, Sanzharivka, and Chornukhyne were impacted by the militants' artillery and mortars. Three enemy strikes from BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers hit Debaltseve.

   "The gangs conducted mortar shelling of Opytne village and the Donetsk airport vicinity at the Donetsk direction.

   "The criminals assaulted Shyrokyne village at the Mariupol direction.

   "The enemy has committed 15 attacks on our positions totally during the night.

   "The overall number of the terrorists' attacks on the ATO forces' positions from Grads reached 21, cannon artillery was used five times, mortars and grenade launchers - 19 times.

   "The number of assaults and location of the targets have once again proved that the enemy makes every effort to seize Debaltseve. However, the ATO forces have not lost a single inch of their positions for the last 24 hours. The Ukrainian soldiers want peace but will not surrender their land.

   "It is also worth adding that gas delivery at Nyzhnioteple - Obozne gas pipeline section was suspended in order to prevent man-made disaster through the shelling of the Ukrainian troops' positions near the villages of Shchastia and Nyzhnioteple, as well as the activities of subversive and reconnaissance groups of the enemy. At the same time, the supply of natural gas can be quickly restored after the gangs cease fire, mine clearance and repair are conducted," the report reads.