Ukraine War Update - 4 April 2015

Saturday, April 4, 2015  6:48 AM PDT

Russia's Lavrov Calls For Pullback Of More Weapons In Ukraine

    (RFE/RL) --- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has proposed that both sides in the conflict in Ukraine withdraw weapons of under 100 mm caliber from the line of contact as a way of boosting confidence in a February cease-fire.

   Lavrov made the comment in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, where he was holding talks with officials and attending festivities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Bratislava's liberation by the Red Army in World War II.

   Lavrov said it was necessary to monitor mainly the military part of the February Minsk agreement that established a cease-fire between Ukrainian government soldiers and pro-Russian separatist fighters in the east of Ukraine.

   The Minsk agreement committed both sides to withdrawing larger weapons of 100 mm caliber or more and to creating a security zone at least 50 kilometers wide within 14 days.

Saturday, April 4, 2015 5:48 AM PDT

Terrorists shelled Donetsk

   (Censor.NET) --- The terrorists’ units provocatively attacked the city of Donetsk today, on April 4.

   The militants' mortar element has shelled Donetsk city at 10.40 a.m., Censor.NET reports citing the ATO press center.

   According to the report, the city of Donetsk has been also fired from a tank and three IFVs at 11.55 a.m. The militants shelled Donetsk city from Staromykhailivka village.

   "Thus, the terrorists are trying to provoke and discredit Ukrainian soldiers," the statement reads.

Saturday, April 4, 2015  3:13 AM PDT

Three Ukrainian Servicemen Killed By Land Mine

    (RFE/RL) --- Three Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and two wounded in a land-mine explosion in separatist eastern territories.

   Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said on April 4 that the casualties happened near the town of Avdiyivka, referring to a government-held town north of rebel-held Donetsk.

   The announcement came on International Mine Awareness Day.

   The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) says unexploded mines and ammunition pose a special threat to children in eastern Ukraine, where government forces have fought pro-Russian separatists.

Saturday, April 4, 2015  3:01 AM PDT

Situation in Ukraine's eastern regions.

   KIEV, April 4 (Ukrinform). --- The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense. Despite the declared ceasefire, Russian-backed terrorists continue to fire at Ukrainian army positions and settlements in Donbas.

   The map reflecting the situation in Donbas as of 12.00 on April 4 has been released by the information and analytical center of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council.

Saturday, April 4, 2015  2:32 AM PDT

Militants shell Shyrokyne at night

   KIEV, April 4 (Ukrinform). --- Terrorists shelled the outskirts of Mariupol with mortars on Friday evening, the ATO press center reports.

   "Militants used 120-millimeter mortars to shell our positions on the southeastern outskirts of Berdianske near Mariupol at 18:20," reads the statement.

   The mortars were also used to fire on positions of the ATO forces on the southwestern outskirts of Shyrokyne village at 22:30.

Saturday, April 4, 2015 1:05 AM PDT

Situation becomes more serious as terrorists shell Avdiivka from tank and artillery

   (Censor.NET) --- Last night the situation in the ATO area became more serious. Not only the terrorists did continue provocations with small arms, but they also used artillery, which must be removed from the line of collision according to the Minsk agreements.

   The militants were most active in the vicinity of Donetsk, Censor.NET reports citing the ATO press center.
   They shelled the town of Avdiivka with 120-mm mortars from 7.06 p.m. till 7.45 p.m. At 7.45 p.m. a terrorist tank opened fire at the town.
   Pisky and Opytne village, as well as Avdiivka were also shelled with mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms.
   At 6.20 p.m. the bandits shelled Ukrainian troops' positions on the south-western outskirts of Berdianske village six times. At 10.30 p.m. ATO forces' positions on the south-western outskirts of Shyrokyne village were mortared.
   In general, the terrorists violated the cease-fire 14 times from 6 p.m. till midnight on April 3.

Saturday, April 4, 2015 12:49 AM PDT

Enemy reccy groups are made up of Russian troopers

   (Zik) --- An upsurge in enemy activity near Artemivsk and Debaltseve is explained by a large number of reconnaissance groups trying to penetrate Ukraine army-held territory, say the servicemen of the 30th Brigade.

   They have had a number of clashes with enemy reccy groups, and say that the 5 to 10-strong groups are made up of Russian troopers, TCH reports Apr. 3.

   “The recce groups are made up of Russian special forces troopers,” says 30th Brigade press officer Andry Maloshuk.

Saturday, April 4, 2015 12:07 AM PDT

Terrorists retreat after battle in Luhansk region

   (Censor.NET) --- Ukrainian soldiers joined a battle with the militants in the Luhansk region.

   The battle has began near Krymske village at 10 p.m., Censor.NET reports citing the ATO press center.

   The militants were forced to retreat. It was also reported that Ukrainian forces' positions near Nyzhnie village were shelled with a 120-mm mortar.

   At the same time, the ATO forces have not responded to the terrorists' provocations, thus, demonstrating a true desire for peace. The terrorists violated the truce firing at the ATO forces' positions 14 times from 6 p.m. (April 3) till 12 a.m. (April 4).

Friday, April 3, 2015  13:38 PDT

Russian militants ordered to fire at residential areas - Donetsk Regional Administration

   (Censor.NET) --- According to received information, the terrorists plan to shoot from the suburbs to provoke return fire.

   This was announced by ATO Deputy Commander, colonel Valentyn Fedichev, Censor.NET reports citing the press service of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.

   "This criminal order allows saboteurs to shell civilians and populated areas of Donetsk, as well as to fire at the ATO positions from the suburbs to provoke return fire," he said.

   In addition, he confirmed caution regarding subversions in public transport going to Berdiansk and Mariupol. "The DPR militants are tripping over themselves for the flames of terror and war to spread to the Zaporizhia region. Ukrainian law enforcement officers will do everything possible to prevent sabotage. But it also requires vigilance from everyone!" he said.

Friday, April 3, 2015  12:16 PDT

Avdiivka shelled by militants with 120-mm mortars - ATO press center

   (Censor.NET) --- Militant groups continue firing at the Ukrainian positions mainly using small arms, but also once by 120-mm mortars.

   This is stated by the anti-terrorist operation press center on Facebook, Censor.NET reports.

   "The enemy was most active near Donetsk. Thus, from midnight to 6 p.m. April 3rd the criminals used grenade launchers and small arms seven times against Opytne. And at 3:25 p.m. the militants fired 120-mm mortar shells at the town of Avdiivka," the ATO press summary reads.

   "Near Artemivsk the gangs fired at Maiorsk four times, and one time they used a machine gun against the village of Luhanske.

   "At 5:40 a.m. the militants used 82-mm mortar to shell Chermalyk near Mariupol. "At the same direction our air defense forces have recorded three enemy UAVs. Except for this, the situation near Mariupol remained calm over the day," the ATO press center noted.

   "In the Luhansk region there was no shooting as of Friday 6 p.m. "In total, from midnight to 6 p.m. April 3rd the enemy violated the silence mode 17 times," the press center summed up.