Illustrative image: AP Photo / Evgeniy Maloletka
On May 25, Deputy Defense Minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Eduard Basurin stated that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had violated the ceasefire regime for 139 times in a period from May 19 to 25.
Basurin pointed out that Ukrainian forces had fired 49 shells of 122 mm caliber, 4 tank shell and 650 mortar shell of 120- and 82-mm caliber. Furthermore, infantry fighting vehicles, all the types of mortars and light weapons were also used. 20 localities were under the fire of the Ukrainian forces.
Basurin stressed that these actions resulted in more than 30 damaged houses, 6 injured and 2 killed citizens.
He also revealed that 2 servicemen of DPR’s Armed Forces were killed and 5 were injured.
The intelligence of the DPR Armed Forces identified the arrival of heavy military equipment to the line of contact, according to Basurin. This equipment includes 4 surface-to-air missile systems 9K35 Strela-10, 2 towed 152.4 mm howitzers 2A65 Msta-B, 7 152.4 mm self-propelled guns SO-152 , 3 self-propelled howitzers 2S1 Gvozdika, four 100 mm antitank cannons Rapira, 19 battle tanks T-64, 14 units of infantry fighting vehicles, armoured vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles.
Chairman of the DPR People’s Council Denis Pushilin stated that the escalation of the conflict, the violation of the ceasefire regime and the increased attacks come from the Ukrainian side with the West “approval.” He also stressed that the tensions are being fueled for purpose ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The Ukrainian side accuses the DPR and the LPR of the recent escalation in the area.
During briefing of a representative of the Joint Forces Operation of Ukraine stated that the situation in the region remains under control. He summered up that DPR’s forces violated the ceasefire for 36 times, including 12 times opening fire from the artillery and mine throwers.
The representative pointed out that the DPR servicemen launched 35 shells at Troitsk. In Gorlovka area, Ukraine forces lost 2 howitzers, a warehouse and 2 Ukrainian soldiers were injured. The DPR lost a light battery, 10 servicemen were killed and 3 injured.
Within the last week, the situation in eastern Ukraine has escalated. In the period from May 13 to 25, 6 civilians were killed and 17 people were injured.
