Ukraine War Update - 25 February 2015

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  9:06 AM PST

Russian tanks from 15th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade in service with ‘Oplot’ terrorists.

   (Censor.NET) --- The Russian tanks of the 15th Motorized Rifle Brigade discovered being in service with the ‘Oplot’ and ‘Vostok’ terrorist groups.

   Censor.NET informs citing report by investigative blogger Al Gri for InformNapalm.

   "The news that the Russian Army detachments were not found in the Rostov region which was first voiced by the Ukrainian and then by the Dutch inspectors, was very necessary for Moscow as a counterargument to the numerous well-founded charges. But if you look at the photographs provided by Google, you may clearly see that there are troops and equipment in the military camps located close to the border with Ukraine. So, where have they all gone?

   "Everyone remembers the events that were taking place in Ukraine in the spring of 2014. It was the upsurge of violence, the occupation of Crimea, appearing groups of the separatist movement, which were able to resist the Ukrainian anti-terrorist operation detachments, and even shoot down military planes and helicopters. Some of these groups got their own armoured equipment by the summer. The main detachments with tanks in "militia" were the so called 'Vostok', 'Zaria', and 'Oplot' battalions.

   "The 'Oplot' battalion tanks were the main participants of all significant operations in the Donbas war including Ilovaisk, Donetsk, and Debaltseve," the author of the report notes.

   "Tanks of the battalion supported and protected the actions of Motorola, Givi, and other chieftains-criminals. However, it is still unknown why this battalion, which, according to Moscow's assurances was conducting some Orthodox-communist-anti-fascist struggle, had chosen death's head as its symbol.

   'Oplot' was one of the first separatists' detachments which demonstrated a remarkable ability to simultaneously operate two types of tanks, which have the same functions but almost completely non-concurrent spare parts. It seems to me that there is no need to once again point to the fact that both types of tanks were produced only by Russia," the report reads.

   

   "It goes without saying that there were losses.

   "But the destroyed 'Oplot' battalion's tanks were replaced by new ones which is very strange for the war-ravaged Donbas. Some of them have even been given their own names: "Granit", "Viking", etc.

"These abovementioned tanks reached Debaltseve itself though not quite in a good condition. And for some reason, there are traces of the old identification numbers, which were applied in red paint on the spare parts boxes of both tanks.

"And the following photos by RIA Novosti were just yesterday managed to be found in the abyss of the Internet:

   "The photo clearly shows standard Russian side number of the tank that has already been disfigured by the inscription of "Viking". But, more importantly, the Russian tactical sign of tank detachment, stenciled in red paint may be clearly seen. And if you look at the tactical mark of the 15th Motorized Rifle Brigade, you will find a surprising similarity with the sign on the side of the "Viking" tank. So, that's where all the Russian troops have gone! It turns out that the Russian troops should be searched for not in the Rostov region but on the Ukrainian territory already. In particular, it's worth examining the armament of the 'Oplot' battalion," the blogger wrote.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  8:59 AM PST

Two Russian propaganda journalists detained in downtown Kiev to be deported to Russia with further ban on entry to Ukraine - SBU

   (Censor.NET) --- Two Russian journalists were detained in the capital of Ukraine. Today they will deported from the country.

   This was stated by SBU spokesperson Olena Hitlianska on Wednesday, Censor.NET reports citing Interfax-Ukraine.

   "The Security Service of Ukraine detained two journalists of Russian NTV and ORT channels in Kiev; a decision was made to cut the duration of their stay in Ukraine short. Today, they will be deported to the Russian Federation with a further ban on entry to Ukraine for five years," she said.

   She stressed that these actions of the SBU are due to "anti-Ukrainian propaganda by these journalists."

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  7:16 AM PST

Ukrainian positions shelled 17 times, no victims reported

   KIEV, February 25 (Ukrinform). --- Over the past day Ukrainian positions in the area of the anti-terrorist operation were fired at 17 times, there are no victims reported.

   Spokesman for the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine Andriy Lysenko said this at a briefing in Kiev on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

   "Over the past day shelling of our positions in the east of Ukraine was observed 17 times ... There are no victims, one soldier has been wounded," Lysenko said.

   He also noted that the enemy conducts regrouping of its forces.

   "Despite the claims of LPR and DPR gang leaders to start withdrawal of military equipment from the line of contact in accordance with the Minsk agreements, over the past two days, movement of GRAD multiple launch rocket systems, armoured vehicles, off-road vehicles, fuel trucks and significant number of covered trucks with personnel and ammunition from the territory of the Russian Federation were observed,” he said.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  6:41 AM PST

Volunteers from Lviv, Western Ukraine, construct drones and teach soldiers how to use them.

   (Censor.NET) --- Volunteers from the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv construct their own drones and teach Ukrainian soldiers how to operate them.

   As reported by Censor.NET, the volunteers, who have been doing this for only a few months now, buy all the parts abroad and put them together in one of Lviv's workshops. They assure that technically, their drones are not worse than those of foreign construction, and at the same time much cheaper.

   The volunteers test their drones every day outside the city. They are very proud with what they do - their drones can fly for nearly 40 kilometers without recharge and up to 3,000 m high.

   In order to pilot the drone, one needs to be trained. Now, a soldier from the ATO area is being trained by the volunteers outside Lviv, and in a few days the military will go back to the front line with the presented Unmanned aircraft.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  5:28 AM PST

Russia redeployed large batch of military equipment and weapons to Donbas terrorists – ATO speaker

   (Censor.NET) --- Russia continues to supply weapons to the terrorists in the Donbas.

   The staff of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) stated that Russia was redeploying a large number of equipment and weapons. This was announced at a briefing of the ATO speaker Andrii Lysenko, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrainian News.

   "The enemy is regrouping and restoring combat capability of its units, replenishing ammunition, technical means, fuel and lubricants. Despite the claims of "DPR" and "LPR" warlords about commencement of the military equipment withdrawal from the demarcation line in accordance with the Minsk agreements, there was movement of MLRS Grad, APCs, all-terrain vehicles, fuel trucks, and a significant number of tent vehicles with personnel and ammunition from the territory of the Russian Federation through the Izvaryne checkpoint. In addition, there was recorded movement of a large number of tanks, Grad systems and other military equipment to Novoazovsk," Lysenko said.

   According to him, the terrorists are withdrawing the damaged equipment to Russia in order to restore it.

   Earlier, the ATO command refuted the beginning of heavy weapons withdrawal from the demarcation line claimed by the terrorists.

   The past 24 hours passed without losses among the Ukrainian troops with one soldier wounded.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  5:04 AM PST

"These sniper complexes can be operated by specially trained military only" - Ukrainian soldiers speak of Russian army presence in Donbas.

   (Censor.NET) --- Ukrainian soldiers say that Russian terrorists use weapons which need special skills and lengthy training.

   As reported by Censor.NET, Ukrainian soldiers believe that 'students from Horlivka' are not qualified enough to effectively use such weapons, this is why, most probably, Ukrainian detachments at the front line fight with Russia's regular troops.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  2:54 AM PST

No one killed, one soldier wounded in the ATO area Tuesday - NSDC

   (Censor.NET) --- One Ukrainian soldier was wounded over the past 24 hours in the ATO area, no one was killed.

   This was announced by the ATO speaker Andrii Lysenko on a Wednesday briefing, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrainska Pravda.

   "On Tuesday, one soldier was wounded and no one killed," Lysenko said.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  2:38 AM PST

Ukrainian Troops Complete Training Near Lviv

   (RFE/RL) --- More than five thousand Ukrainian troops completed basic training at a military firing range near the western city of Lviv on February 24. The average age of the recruits, some of whom are volunteers while others have been mobilized, is 40. They will be sent for further training with units, before eventually being deployed in the war zone.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  2:38 AM PST

Ukraine Imposes More Controls On Foreign-Currency Purchases

   (RFE/RL) --- Ukraine’s central bank has imposed a temporary ban on purchases of foreign currencies by authorized banks on behalf of their customers.

   The ban, in effect from February 25 to February 27, is the latest move by Ukraine’s National Bank aimed at supporting the troubled hryvnya currency.

   The central  bank also increased the waiting time from three to four business days for the purchase of foreign currency through deposits in special accounts, or for making advance payments on imports worth more than $50,000.

   Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk criticized the move, saying it was made without consultation with the government and would not bring stability to the hryvnya.

   Yatsenyuk also called on parliament to convene urgently to debate how to stabilize Ukraine’s financial system.

   Ukraine’s conflict has hit the economy hard, with the hryvnya losing about 70 percent of its value on foreign-exchange markets during the past year.

   On February 23, with the hryvnya trading about 9 percent lower than its level the previous week, the central bank capped payments in foreign currencies at $500,000 without letters of credit from foreign banks.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  1:18 AM PST

Terrorists attacked Ukrainian army's positions near Shyrokyne again and shelled Popasna from mortars - ATO press center

   (Censor.NET) --- The volume of terrorists' shelling of the Ukrainian army positions continues to decrease but remains significant. Attempts to take the ATO forces' positions by storm continue.

   This was reported by the ATO press center, Censor.NET informs.
   "For the second day in a row, a significant decrease in the volume of terrorists' shelling of the ATO forces and Ukrainian villages is noted in the ATO area.

   "There was no shelling at the Mariupol, Luhansk, and Donetsk directions in the night.
   "However, fire attacks over certain towns continue. Last night, the terrorists shelled Popasna town near Debaltseve twice.
   "In total over the past day, the mercenaries used artillery and mortars for 15 times, small arms and grenade launchers for four times. The ATO forces repelled the enemy's attack near Shyrokyne at about 5 p.m. yesterday.
   "Air reconnaissance of the enemy has also become more active with usage of drones. Nine drone flights were recorded by the air defense forces of Ukraine over the past day.
   "Despite provocations, Ukrainian soldiers maintain their positions and abide by the cease-fire regime along the demarcation line," the message concludes.
   As reported earlier, the General Staff of the Ukrainian army announced that the withdrawal of the heavy weapons will not be possible until total cease-fire.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015  12:47 AM PST

Rebel forces regrouping along touchline – Tymchuk

   (Zik) --- Russian/rebel troops in Donbas are regrouping along the touchline instead of pulling their heavy artillery back, military expert Dmytro Tymchuk writes in Facebook Feb. 25.

   Although the intensity of enemy shelling has decreased, the Russian and rebel troops continue to violate the Minsk agreements, firing on Ukraine army positions and civilian homes. In some areas, the enemy continues active offensive operations using small groups, Tymchuk says. 

   For instance, in the Mariupol zone the enemy forces include an infantry battalion(550 – 600 servicemen), 15 tanks, 25 APCs and 20 trucks. This group is supported by about 15 artillery guns and 8 missile batteries. The group is spearheaded toward Shyrokine close to Mariupol, the army expert said.

   The enemy is increasingly involved in mounting large caliber machine guns and mortars on trucks, the expert said.