Ukraine Update - 27 December 2015

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

5:10 AM

Terrorists shell Popasna with Grad missiles

   (UNIAN) --- At about 09:00 Kyiv time on December 23, the terrorists started firing Grad multiple rocket launchers on the town of Popasna from the militant-controlled village of Kalynove, the press service of the Luhansk Regional State Administration has reported.

   "At the moment, we have no information about casualties or damage. Despite the next stage of the Minsk agreements, the terrorists once again grossly violated them, firing heavy weapons on the region," Chairman of Luhansk Regional Military and Civil Administration Heorhiy Tuka said.

   In addition, it is reported that three missiles hit near Parusovka Street.

   As UNIAN reported earlier, the militants of the Donetsk People's Republic terrorist organization deployed Grad multiple rocket launchers and self-propelled artillery to attack the Ukrainian military.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

1:54 AM

Ukrainian govt forces claim Donbas militants violate ceasefire 25 times

   (Interfax) --- The Ukrainian military have recorded 25 ceasefire violations by Donbas militiamen on Friday evening and on Saturday morning, the Ukrainian press center of the military operation in the eastern part of the country reports.

   "Since 6:00 p.m. yesterday, Russian-terrorist gangs have violated the absolute ceasefire agreement in the ATO [antiterrorist operation] area about 25 times," the press center said on Facebook.

In particular, Ukrainian government forces were fired upon near Novhorodske, Zaitseve, Mayorsk, Luhanske, Opytne and Pisky with small arms, grenade launchers and large-caliber machineguns.

   Moreover, militants used 120-mm mortars to shell Ukrainian government forces' positions in Pisky, 82-mm mortars in Zaitseve, and antitank rocket systems in Luhanske.

   The militants have undertaken 61 acts of armed provocation over the past 24 hours, the press center said. The village of Vodyane near Mariupol was also shelled twice, it said.

8:06 AM

Turkey to support formation of Crimean Tatar voluntary battalion

   (Zik) --- Turkey pledged to help in the formation of a voluntary battalion consisting of Crimean Tatars. The battalion is to be deployed in the Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, near the border with Crimea, Lenur Islyamov, coordinator of Crimea’s Blockade campaign said Dec. 26.

   Turkey will supply the uniforms and equipment, Islyamov said.

   The battalion will be part of Ukraine army, Islyamov explained.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

2:09 AM

Several mortar shells hit civilian houses as militants fired from different types of weapons at Zaitseve – ATO headquarters

   (Censor.NET) --- ATO headquarters reported on the details of the yesterday's mortaring of Zaitseve village.

   "Yesterday, Dec. 26, the Russia-controlled armed groups fired several times at the positions of the ATO forces located near the village of Zaitseve. The militants did not limit themselves in firepower: they fired from small arms, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, antiaircraft guns, 82 mm mortars, as well as tanks, which had to be withdrawn at a significant distance from the line of collision according to the Minsk Аgreements," Censor.NET reports citing the ATO press center.
   Several shells hit houses of local civilians during the attack. One of the houses caught fire. Ukrainian soldiers rushed to give first aid to local residents. In one of the houses, they found an elderly woman who suffered multiple shrapnel wounds as a result of a mortar shell hit. Ukrainian soldiers began to provide first aid, trying to evacuate the woman to the nearest medical facility under continuing fire. However, the condition of the wounded woman was very bad and she died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
   "This tragic incident is one more evidence to the fact that the invaders of the so-called self-proclaimed republics and their Moscow curators continue breaking all sorts of agreements on the peaceful settlement of the conflict. Thus, their statements about the safety and welfare of the people of the Donbas are just empty words," the press center stressed.

4:00 AM

Ukraine, Poland to team up to develop two self-propelled artillery systems

    (Zik) --- The state-run Ukroboronprom Corporation uniting weapons manufacturers and a Polish company will cooperate to develop two self-propelled artillery systems mounted on Ukraine-made vehicles, Ukrinform reports Dec. 26.

   Ukraine’s Morozov design bureau and Poland’s Huta Stalowa Wola are to develop a 120-mm APC-mounted mortar and a 155-mm howitzer mounted on the Oplot tank chassis.

   In 2016, Ukroboronprom has plans to launch production of ammunition and engines for tanks and APCs.

   Ukroboronprom also plans to modernize the Kharkiv Morozov design bureau and Malyshev tank plant for serial production of Oplot tanks and spares for APC-4s and Dozors.

4:48 AM

Poroshenko approves NATO military exercises in Ukraine next year

   (UAToday) --- The decree also allows Ukrainian troops to undertake training abroad with partner countries

   President Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree authorizing multinational military exercises in Ukraine next year. Under the plan, US forces along with other NATO members and states involved in the Partnership for Peace programme - will be allowed to operate with appropriate weapons and equipment. The decree published late Saturday also permits Ukrainian soldiers to train abroad.

   A number of military exercises will be hosted by Ukraine next year – including Maple Arch 2016 – which focuses on stabilization and peacekeeping missions and Sea Breeze 2016, centered on international maritime operations.

   In a statement, the presidential administration said, "[The] exercises will increase the efficiency of national programs for training the Armed Forces to carry out their tasks of national defense and implementation of Ukraine's international obligations, including the participation in international operations on maintaining international peace and security."

   The invasion of Russian forces into east Ukraine has prompted Ukraine and its NATO allies to bolster military cooperation across a broad range of areas including in training, reforms and the supply of 'non-lethal' aid and military equipment.

4:50 AM

One Ukrainian soldier killed, three wounded in Donbas in last day

   (UNIAN) --- One Ukrainian soldier was killed and another three were wounded in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine in the last day, according to the Ukrainian Presidential Administration.

   "In the last day, unfortunately, one Ukrainian soldier was killed and three soldiers were wounded in hostilities," Press Secretary for the Presidential Administration for ATO issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk said at a briefing in Kyiv.

   The ATO positions were attacked 66 times by Russian-backed militants in the past 24 hours amid growing escalation in Donbas.

5:39 AM

Militants shelled Zolote checkpoint – State Border Guard Service

   (Censor.NET) --- On Dec. 26, the illegal armed units shelled Zolote checkpoint located on the demarcation line in the Luhansk region.

   Censor.NET informs citing the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
   "Yesterday, the illegal armed units have carried out provocative attacks at Zolote checkpoint where border guards and Armed Forces of Ukraine are deployed. They fired from uncontrolled territory, namely from the town of Pervomaisk," the report reads.
   However, there were no unmanned aerial vehicles recorded in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions yesterday.
   "Measures to end illegal movement of goods and cargoes along the demarcation line are taken. Mobile border groups detained four vehicles transporting goods without proper documentation over the past 24 hours," the State Border Guard Service reported.