Click to see full-size image
Following a short break in the shelling of the territories of the DPR and the LPR after the recognition of the republics’ independence by Russia on February 21, the UAF resumed their attacks in full force on the afternoon of February 22.
Shelling continues along the entire front line. Intense attacks targeted the cities of Lugansk and Gorlovka, as well as Donetsk suburbs. Dozens of civilian settlements have already been destroyed.
The following video shows the shelling in the village of Schastie in the LPR:
The shelling in Lugansk:
At 11.35 p.m. local time, the UAF violated hit the village of Berezovskoye from their positions near Zolotoe-4, using an ATGM. As a result of the Ukrainian aggression, a civilian car was hit by a direct fire. Two civilians were killed, according to the LPR representative office in the JCCC.
At least 5 civilians were killed in the Donbass region on February 23. 3 in an explosion in the DNR and 2 others were killed in the LNR. At least two soldiers were also killed. One in the DPR and another in the LNR. On the other side, the UAF reported that two Ukrainian soldiers were killed on the front lines.
For the first time since March 2018, the UAF used rocket artillery during the shelling of the Donetsk People’s Republic. According to the DPR officials, Ukrainian soldiers from the positions of the 56th Motorized Infantry Brigade opened fire from the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher system on the Kievskiy district of the city of Donetsk, firing five missiles.
Click to see full-size image
Earlier on the same day, the DPR intelligence service reported the deployment of additional weapons by the UAF along the front lines. This included additional artillery, MLRS, as well as armored vehicles.
At the same time, more Russian military columns, consisting of T-72B1, TOS-1A, GMZ-Z, IMR-2, MTU-72, BMP-2, were spotted in the border areas.
At about midnight local time, a large explosion took place in the city of Donetsk.
An IED exploded on the territory of the Donetsk television center. No injuries were reported.
The DPR officials suppose that this explosion was carried out by the Ukrainian special services in order to intimidate local journalists.
On the same day, the former Minister of Defense of the DPR Vladimir Kononov survived an assassination attempt.
At 16.32 local time, an explosion took place in the area of the intersection of Lazarenko and Tsusimskaya Streets in Donetsk, targeting the former DPR Defense Minister. As a result, a local resident received a mine-explosive injury, but Mr. Kononov was not injured. It was established that the victim was on his way to a meeting with Vladimir Kononov.
A criminal case has been opened on the fact of the explosion, operational and investigative measures are being carried out.
Click to see full-size image
On February 21, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attempted to break through the Russian border in several areas. One Ukrainian sabotage group that penetrated into Russian territory in the area of the settlement Mityakinskaya was destroyed by Russian forces.
Two other groups attempted to break through the Russian border in the Novoazovsky district of the DPR. According to the People’s Militia of the DPR, later the Ukrainian saboteurs were blocked on the territory of the republic.
On February 22, the videos showing the incidents in the Novoazovsky district were shared online.
