Donetsk, Oct 14 – DAN Ukrainian forces have deployed dozens of artillery guns, tanks, mortars, multiple launch rocket systems, missile defense systems and UAV to the frontline over a week, Donetsk People’s Republic Operations Command deputy Chief Eduard Basurin told reporters on Friday.
“Our intelligence has uncovered new evidence of the Ukrainian army’s illegitimate deployment of prohibited weapons in the proximity to the contact line this week,” Basurin said.
Ukraine deployed a tank platoon, two batteries of Grad MLRS, a battery of Giatsint-B howitzers and as many self-propelled guns in the Gorlovka axis.
DPR intelligence also detected a tank platoon, a battery of Gvozdika self-propelled guns, two 120mm mortar batteries and seven Valkiria UAV near Donetsk.
In the Mariupol direction, Ukrainian units were reinforced with up to two tank companies, four batteries of 120 mm Gvozdika self-propelled guns, a battery of D-30 howitzers, a battery of 100m MT-12 Rapira guns and four Buk-M1 missile defense systems.
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 caliber or more to a distance of 50 kilometers apart from each other, multiple launch rocket systems Tornado, Uragan and Smerch to a distance of 70 kilometers and Tactical Missile Systems Tochka to a distance of 140 kilometers. The Attachment to the Minsk Agreements signed in September provides for the parties’ withdrawal of their artillery systems of a caliber less than 100 mm, as well as tanks and mortars. Despite the accords, Ukraine regularly shells DPR areas.