Ukraine War Update - 18 February 2015

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  7:29 AM PST

NATO Secretary General reports buildup of tanks and armoured vehicles across the border from Russia to Ukraine.

   (Censor.NET) --- NATO urged Russia to withdraw all forces from eastern Ukraine and to end its support for the pro-Moscow separatists as a cease-fire appeared to unravel.

   "I urge Russia to withdraw all its forces from eastern Ukraine, to stop all its support for the separatists and to respect the Minsk agreement," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in the Latvian capital Riga, Censor.NET reports citing i24News.

   "The cease-fire has not been respected," he told reporters before meeting with EU defense ministers and said he was "deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation" in eastern Ukraine.

   "Russian forces, artillery and air defense units as well as command and control elements are still active in Ukraine," he said, adding that "there has been a steady buildup of tanks and armoured vehicles across the border from Russia to Ukraine."

   "The refusal of the separatists to respect the ceasefire threatens the agreement as does the denial of access to the area for OSCE monitors."

   Stoltenberg urged Moscow to "use all its influence on the separatists to make them respect the cease-fire".

   "We will provide practical support for Ukraine, with modernizing and reforming the defense army and of course we are also adapting our own defense posture to the fact that we see that the security environment in Europe is changing because of the actions of Russia in Ukraine."

   Earlier, Stoltenberg stated that the separatists used advanced weapons to attack the Ukrainian forces in Debaltseve.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  7:22 AM PST

British Foreign Ministry identified Putin's real intentions: Absolutely not in the spirit of Minsk deal

   (Censor.NET) --- British Foreign Secretary Hammond suggests extending sanctions against Russia.

   If the cease-fire in Ukraine breaks down Europe should at least extend its sanctions against Moscow, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Wednesday, Censor.NET reports citing Reuters.
   "I hear this morning that President Putin is calling on Ukrainian forces in Debaltseve to surrender. That is absolutely not in the spirit of what was agreed last week and belies Russia's true intentions," he told reporters in Lisbon after meeting his Portuguese counterpart Rui Machete.
   "If the cease-fire breaks down or we determine that Russia is not acting in good faith, we should first of all look to make a clear statement about the extension of the existing sanctions measures, which are due to expire in July, extending them further to the end of the year," the Secretary said.
   Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy posted a statement on Feb. 18 reading that if the hostilities continue and Minsk agreement is further violated, the EU will take appropriate action.
   As reported Wednesday by the ATO press center, the terrorists are getting ready to new hostilities anyway.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  7:00 AM PST

"The shelling was so intense that it was impossible to leave the dugout" - Ukrainian troops withdrew from Debaltseve.

   (Censor.NET) --- Ukrainian detachments are being redeployed from Debaltseve to Artemivsk.

   The operation on organized withdrawal of the Ukrainian servicemen, military equipment, and weapons from the city is underway, Censor.NET reports citing 1stvc.net Source

Audio problems on video

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  6:56 AM PST

France recognizes violation of ceasefire in Donbas

   KIEV, February 18 (Ukrinform). --- Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development of France Laurent Fabius admitted "serious violations" of the ceasefire in Donbas.

   The French minister said this speaking to members of the National Assembly of France, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

   "In general, at the moment, we can say that the ceasefire is observed. However, there are two serious 'but' in the area of Debaltseve where, despite the commitments, fierce fighting between separatists and Ukrainian troops continues," he said to the parliamentarians.

   According to him, the withdrawal of heavy weapons, which had to begin on February 15, has not started.

   "It is clear that these two aspects are very important," the minister said, adding that the main goal is to "move from the stage of war to peace."

   "It is not easy, but the task undertaken by France, together with our German friends, is to achieve maximum results," Fabius said.

   As reported, according to information provided by ATO headquarters on Tuesday, the situation in the area of Debaltseve is extremely tense and changes almost every hour. Militants storm positions of ATO forces and fire at the city and surrounding villages.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  6:43 AM PST

At least 167 injured, many killed near Debaltseve – battalion commander Semenchenko

   (Interfax) --- The commander of the 'Donbas' battalion and parliamentarian Semen Semenchenko (Samopomich Party) has said that 167 Ukrainian soldiers have been injured near Debaltseve.

   "By now, 167 injured have been moved to Artemivsk. Many of those dead were not removed. I do not know the total number. The Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, police, volunteers," he wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

   The situation not only in Debaltseve but in other hotspots such as Savur-Mohyla, Ilovaisk and Donetsk airport, is an attestation not of the enemy's superiority but the heroism of the national army and "the blatant incompetence, if not worse, of the top army leaders," he said.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  6:28 AM PST

British Embassy publishes new evidence of Putin's aggression: Russian AA system Pantsir S-1 spotted in Donbas. PHOTO

   (Censor.NET) --- The British Embassy in Ukraine provided new evidence of the Russian Federation heavy armament presence in Ukraine.

   The agency posted images of the most advanced Russian anti-aircraft artillery system Pantsir S-1 on Twitter, Censor.NET reports.

Russian anti-aircraft artillery system Pantsir S-1

In addition, the embassy explains how to recognize Russian weapons which are not in service with the Ukrainian Armed Forces by reading identification marks.

   The embassy submits pictures of the mentioned anti-aircraft artillery missile complex and the dates when it was recorded on the territory of Ukraine.

   "The world is concerned about Debaltseve. Russia must implement Minsk agreements and withdraw weapons from Ukraine, such as this," the caption to the photo of the British Embassy reads.

   Earlier, the British Embassy in Ukraine "helped" Russia to recognize its tanks on the territory of Ukraine, the presence of which the Russian Federation continues to deny.

   In particular, specific features of T-72BM tank, which is not in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, were published.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  6:14 AM PST

Russia violates its obligations under Minsk agreements - Foreign Ministry

   KIEV, February 18 (Ukrinform). --- Ukraine welcomes the unanimous approval by the UN Security Council of the resolution 2202 (2015) concerning the situation in eastern Ukraine as of February 17, 2015. Taking into account the above said, it is the height of cynicism that such a draft resolution was submitted by the Russian Federation, which is grossly violating its obligations under [those same] Minsk agreements, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Wednesday.

   "Taking advantage of Ukraine's observance of the ceasefire, the militants, supported by Russia, have been building up their offensive in Debaltseve. The Russian side is consistently blocking the execution by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission of its mandate to monitor the situation. Russia continues to supply weapons on the territory of Ukraine," reads the statement.

   The Ukrainian diplomats said they welcomed the "immediate reaction of the Security Council, which in its statement before the vote on the resolution expressed concerns about the continuing attacks on Debaltseve."

   The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also "calls on the international community to undertake all measures to ensure an immediate and complete ceasefire, and unconditional implementation by Russia and the militants it supports of the Minsk Protocol dated September 5, 2014, the Minsk Memorandum dated September 19, 2014 and the set of measures to implement the Minsk agreements signed on February 12, 2015."

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  5:12 AM PST

80% of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the National Guard detachments withdrawn from Debaltseve - Poroshenko

   (Censor.NET) --- The Armed Forces of Ukraine are carrying out a planned and organized withdrawal of troops from Debaltseve today.

   "80% of the units have already been safely withdrawn," President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko stated at the airport Wednesday noon before his departure to the ATO area, Censor.NET informs citing Interfax-Ukraine.

   "I can say now that the Ukrainian armed forces and the National Guard completed an operation on the planned and organized withdrawal of some units from Debaltseve this morning," the president said.

   "Some 80% of the units have already been withdrawn. We expect two more columns" to be pulled out, he said.

   Poroshenko added that the detachments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are leaving Debaltseve (the Donetsk region) with military equipment and weapons.

   "We stated and proved that Debaltseve was under our control - there was no entrapment. Our units and detachments performed planned and organized withdrawal. They have completely left the area with equipment, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery systems, tractors, and other vehicles," he said.

   "Despite heavy shelling from artillery and multiple rocket launchers we currently have information that only 30 our servicemen were wounded totally out of more than 2,000 military," he said.

   Poroshenko noted that this information could still be verified.

   According to the President, Ukrainian military have honorably fulfilled their tasks in the battle for Debaltseve and scored a point against the Russian army.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  4:35 AM PST

Separatists refused to respect cease-fire and used advanced weapons near Debaltseve - Stoltenberg

   (Censor.NET) --- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the situation in Ukraine was deteriorating.

   He said this at the joint press point with the Latvian President, Censor.NET reports citing NATO's official website.

   "Today I am deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in and around Debaltseve," Stoltenberg said. "The refusal of the separatists to respect the cease-fire threatens the agreement, as does their denial of access to the area for the OSCE monitors. Russian forces, artillery and air defence units as well as command and control elements are still active in Ukraine.

   "I urge Russia to end its support for the separatists and withdraw its forces and military equipment from eastern Ukraine in accordance with the Minsk agreement.

   "We continue to believe that this agreement is the best way forward to a political solution to the conflict in Ukraine," NATO Secretary General summed up.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  2:28 AM PST

30th Ukrainian brigade got out of entrapment near Lohvynove and captured 15 mercenaries with newest Russian weapons - volunteer.

   (Censor.NET) --- 30th brigade of the ATO forces captured 15 mercenaries when getting out of an entrapment near Lohvynove, the Debaltseve area, the Donetsk region.

   This was announced by volunteer Rodion Shovkoshytnyi on his Facebook page, Censor.NET reports.

   According to him, the brigade was taken out of the entrapment by a soldier with Doshch ('Rain') call sign.
   Shovkoshytnyi cited the soldier: "I took my detachment out of the entrapment in Lohvynove. We went through a minefield to the enemy's rear. A separatists' unit walked towards us. I told the guys: do not lean, walk calmly. We were upsun so they couldn't see us well. We waved as if we were friends. Then we let them come closer and captured 15 of them. Three of these things were also captured. It shoots a tank with one shot, it's like a small anti-tank guided missile launcher. Made in Russia in 2014."

RPG-29 Vampire, a rocket-propelled grenade

   According to some of those who commented on the images, this is an RPG-29 Vampire, a rocket-propelled grenade.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015  12:04 AM PST

Ukraine army retreating from Debaltseve

   (Zik) --- Ukrainian troops are leaving Debaltseve, fighting their way out of the encirclement, Hromadske TV journalists Anastasia Stanko reports Feb. 18

   “Many are leaving Debaltseve on foot. They are picked up on the road to Artemivsk by Ukraine troops.
   ‘Kryvbas’ battalion volunteers claim they went without food for 5 days during their encirclement near Movohryhorivka.

   So far, not all Ukraine units have been able to retreat from the city, Hromadske TV reports.  

Tuesday, February 17, 2015  23:34 PST

The Terrorist Donetsk republic police ban invalid rebels to appear in public

   (Zik) --- Police in the breakaway Donetsk republic are trying to ban former rebels who became mutilated to appear in public places, military expert Dmytro Tymchuk writes in Facebook Feb. 18.

   Donetsk police are trying to explain to invalids to make their public appearances less frequent.

   Several conflicts involving angered invalids have been reported.