Donetsk, Dec 26 – DAN. Ukrainian army deployed 14 Akatsia self-propelled howitzers and three Osa air-defence systems to Lastochkino and Tonenkoye villages north-west of Donetsk, LPR Operations Command deputy commander Eduard Basurin told a news briefing at Donetsk News Agency on Monday.
“Our intelligence keeps recording the strengthening of Ukrainian forces positions near the contact line,” Basurin said. “A battalion of 14 Akatsia 152mm self-propelled howitzers of 55th separate artillery brigade arrived in Lastochkino village (9 km from the contact line) to reinforce 58th separate motorized infantry brigade.”
“In Tonenkoye village (9 km from the contact line), standby positions of three Osa air defence systems were spotted,” he said.
Ukrainian forces deployed five Akatsia 152mm self-propelled howitzers to Vershina village outside Gorlovka (12 km from the contact line), while in Semigorye village in the vicinity of Debaltsevo firing positions of seven D-30 122mm towed howitzers were revealed.
“Up to 200 personnel from the nationalistic squad Sich were spotted arriving in Mirnoye (11 km from the contact line, DPR south – eds DAN), to reinforce positions of 56th separate motorized infantry brigade,” Basurin said.
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. *jk