Ukraine War Update - 15 March 2015

Sunday, March 15, 2015  8:31 AM PDT

SBU found terrorist weapons cache near Artemivsk.

   (Censor.NET) --- The Security Service of Ukraine officers have found a cache of weapons and explosives on the territory of a non-working refractory works near the village of Chasiv Yar (Artemivsk area in the Donesk region).

   The cache was made by a subversive group to prepare terrorist acts, Censor.NET reports citing the press service of the SBU.
   The SBU have found 6 kg of TNT, two anti-tank mines, one anti-personnel mine, 19 F1 grenades, two hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers, and ammunition for small arms, including sniper weapons. Approaches to the cache have been mined with booby-extensions produced in Russia.

Sunday, March 15, 2015  4:29 AM PDT

Dnipro-1 battalion soldier Oleksandr Oksentiuk killed near Pisky

   (Censor.NET) --- Oleksandr Oksentiuk aka Svat, soldier of the Dnipro-1 battalion, has been killed in action.

   Censor.NET reports citing Dnipro-1 battalion's page.
   "Oleksandr Oksentiuk aka Svat, soldier of the Dnipro-1 battalion, has been killed in combat near the village of Pisky," the report reads.

Sunday, March 15, 2015  4:00 AM PDT

Chechen Commander Of Ukrainian Battalion Denies Involvement In Nemtsov Murder

   (RFE/RL) --- Adam Osmayev, a Chechen commander of a Ukrainian volunteer battalion has denied any involvement in the murder of Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.

   Pro-Kremlin Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda had reported that "the organizers of the crime could have been Chechen militants" that it said have fought alongside government forces against Russian-backed separatists in the war in eastern Ukraine. 

   It cited an unnamed law enforcement source as claiming the masterminds of the murder were Osmayev and his wife, Amina Okuyeva.

   Nemtsov was shot dead on February 27 on a Moscow bridge just meters away from the Kremlin. 

   Osmayev told Russia's Dozhd TV station on March 14 that the accusation was "complete nonsense, which isn't even worth commenting on." Osmayev said he viewed Nemtsov positively and news about his murder was "painful" to learn.
   Osmayev was arrested in Ukraine in 2012, at Moscow's behest, on suspicion of plotting to kill Russian President Vladimir Putin, but was released in November 2014. 

   He then joined a Ukrainian volunteer battalion named after Dzhokhar Dudayev, the Chechen rebel leader who fought against Russia in the early 1990s.

Sunday, March 15, 2015  3:31 AM PDT

Terrorists shelled Azov’s positions near Shyrokyne

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants shelled Azov regiment’s positions with mortars near the village of Shyrokyne today, at 6.15 a.m.

   Adviser to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Zorian Shkyriak informed, Censor.NET reports citing the Ministry of Internal Affairs press service.
   "Our soldiers fired back. There are no losses among Ukrainian soldiers. Despite the Minsk agreements, the enemy continues to pull in troops, tanks, armoured vehicles, rocket systems and artillery near Novoazovsk town and Sahanka village," Shkyriak said.
   According to him, the number of terrorists is increasing daily. "The ATO forces are ready to repel the enemy attack anytime," Zorian Shkyriak assured.

Sunday, March 15, 2015  2:10 AM PDT

Another Putin's "humanitarian convoy" crossed Ukrainian border illegally

   (Censor.NET) --- Russian convoy with 'humanitarian aid carrying materials for the spring sowing season' has crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border.

   Oleg Voronov, the deputy head of the National Crisis Management Center of the Russian Emergencies Ministry informs, Censor.NET reports referring to TASS.

   "More than 80 vehicles will deliver more than 700 tonnes of relief cargoes to the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. They include mineral fertilizers and seeds for the spring field works as well as building materials for repairing the damaged buildings," Voronov said.

   This is the 19th Russian "humanitarian convoy" since August 2014 delivered to the Donbas without authorization. Since Ukrainian border guards were not allowed to the clearance, it remains unknown what the so-called humanitarian aid convoy carries. According to the NSDC, these trucks import ammunition and weapons to the terrorists-controlled territory.

Sunday, March 15, 2015  1:21 AM PDT

Russians shelled Ukrainian army’s positions for 14 times last night

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants continue to shell the ATO forces’ positions with 120 mm mortars despite the Minsk agreements.

   Censor.NET reports citing the ATO press center.

   The terrorists violated the truce 14 times, firing at the army's positions from 8p.m. (March 14) till 6a.m. (March 15).

   The militants shelled Opytne and Hranitne villages with mortars in the Donetsk sector last night. The village of Opytne was also fired from small arms and grenade launchers.

   Myronivske village was shelled with mortars in the Artemivsk sector. The militants fired at Triokhizbenka and Sokolnyky villages from small arms in the Luhansk sector. Enemy drones were spotted in the Mariupol sector.

Saturday, March 14, 2015  9:17 AM PDT

Terrorists threaten to attack Ukrainian army’s positions aiming to spread panic among civilians

   (Censor.NET) --- The militants are trying to spread panic among the population living on the Ukraine-controlled territory of the Donbas.

   Andrii Lysenko, speaker of the National Security and Defense Council announced today at a briefing, Censor.NET reports.
   "In order to spread havoc among the civilians, the enemy is trying to destabilize the situation on the territory, controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. The militants infiltrate to the liberated territories of the Donbas, provoking and threatening the locals,"

Saturday, March 14, 2015  7:01 AM PDT

 ‘DPR’ terrorists' tank rammed into civil car in Donetsk city center

   (Censor.NET) --- The driver and passengers of a car were injured after an accident in the Donetsk city center.

   The accident has happened at Artema Street and Sadovyi prospect intersection, where the 'DPR' terrorists' tank drove into a civil car, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrainski Novyny.
   The passengers suffered serious injuries and were taken away by an ambulance. The exact number of victims and their fate is unknown.
   Unfortunately, this is not the first car accident involving the militants' military equipment.