Donetsk, Nov 21 – DAN. Ukrainian forces strengthened their positions in Volnovakha area near the contact line in Donbass with tanks, self-propelled howitzers and mortars, DPR Operations Command deputy commander Colonel Eduard Basurin told a news briefing at Donetsk News Agency on Monday citing intelligence reports.
“Our intelligence keeps recording the deployment of heavy weapons at Ukrainian forces’ positions near the contact line. Thus the arrival of ten tanks has been recorded near Polnoye settlement in Volnovakha area within nine kilometers from the contact line,” Basurin said.
He added that three 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers were spotted in Talakovka (three kilometers from the contact line) while four 82mm mortars were located near Pavlopol (one kilometer from the contact line).
DPR intelligence reports Kiev’s regular deployment of military equipment to the conflict zone. Under The Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements signed by the Contact Group on February 12, 2015, the sides have to withdraw their artillery systems of 100 mm calibre or more to a distance of 50 kilometres apart from each other, multiple launch rocket systems Tornado, Uragan and Smerch to a distance of 70 kilometres and Tactical Missile Systems Tochka to a distance of 140 kilometres. The Addendum to the Minsk Agreements signed in September provides for the parties’ withdrawal of their artillery systems of a calibre less than 100 mm, as well as tanks and mortars. Despite the agreement, Ukraine regularly shells DPR areas using the above weapons.