Donetsk, Nov 24 – DAN. Kiev forces strengthened their positions in Donbass with self-propelled artillery, D-30 howitzers, mortars and tanks, DPR Operations Command deputy commander Eduard Basurin told a news briefing at Donetsk News Agency on Thursday citing intelligence reports.
“Our intelligence keeps recording the reinforcement of Ukrainian forces positions close to the contact line with heavy weapons,” Basurin said.
DPR intelligence revealed the location of eight self-propelled howitzers (Gvozdika, 122mm) in Sartana village area outside Mariupol (7 km from the contact line). Firing positions of three 120mm mortars were revealed in Krutaya Balka village outside Yasinovataya (1 km from the contact line). Four 120mm mortars and five tanks were spotted in Novogrigorovka village area outside Druzhkovka (2 km from the contact line) and Nikolayevka outside Slavyansk (5 km from the contact line). The location of five D-30 towed howitzers was spotted in Primorskoye township area outside Novoazovsk (13 km 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.