On July 17 the coordinator of the ‘Information resistance’ group, the Ukrainian deputy, Dmytro Tymchuk reported on his facebook that the escalation of subversion terrorist activity (‘small war’) was observed in the tactical and operative-tactical rears of the anti-terrorists operation (ATO) forces. We believe that this may mean the preparation of the adversary to the active combat actions and the attempt to cut off the military logistics of the Ukrainian army is ahead of it. 

Dmytro Tymchuk, ‘IR’ group

“During the previous day we observed the fulfillment of combat tasks in the rears of the Ukrainian military forces by several subversion units of the enemy (mainly from the departments of the Russian GRU Special Forces). In particular, subversion groups actively mine the territory, hunt single Ukrainian servicemen and the transport convoys that move without protection.

To the west of Donetsk (on the border Marinka – Krasnogrivka – Pisky – Opytne – Avdiivka – Shumy) terrorists continue shooting from various weapons and actively use the armoured fighting vehicles. Near the town of Opytne the terrorists shooted from the 120-mm mortars, also they used the 122-mm artillery closer to Avdiivka. The shootings from tanks and 2A13 ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannons were observed in the area of Krasnogrivka and Pisky.

The enemy sniper groups continue shooting the positions of ATO forces from the bushes in the area of Marinka and Krasnogrivka (a brick plant).

In Primorsk direction (the area of Shyrokyne and between Gnutove and Talakivka) the terrorists continued shooting from the small arms and the usage of the 82-mm mortars was observed.

The enemy continues armed provocations and spontaneous shooting and also makes attempts to send sabotage groups to the rear of the Ukrainian Army in the area of Shchastya. The terrorists actively use automatic grenade launchers 6G11 AGS-17 there for shooting and fire support of subversion groups’ infiltration.

Novotoshkivka and Krymske were shot from 122-mm artillery repeatedly during the day (mainly trying to affect the strongholds of the ATO forces).

The terrorists also moved 6 tanks and 4 armored fighting vehicles (3 BMP-2 and 1 MT-LB) to the area of Donetsk airport.

Also they move and regroup the artillery in several places at the same time:

– five 122-mm 2C1 ‘Gvozdika’ self-propelled mortars were moved (1 BMP-1, 2 MT-LB и 4 trucks were also there) in the direction of Shakhtarsk – Ilovaisk through Snizhne;

– to the east of Panteleymonivka (in the triangle Panteleymonivka – Korsun – Shechenko) the ‘Information resistance’ group registered the arrival of six 122-mm D-30 cannons and the appearance of a fire management point;

– the 122-mm BM-21 ‘Grad’ rocket launcher battery was moved to Horlivka;

– the terrorists moved artillery fire units (3 152-mm 2С3 ‘Akatsiya’ self-propelled mortars and 3 122-mm BM-21 ‘Grad’ vehicles) to the area of Perevalsk and Frunze (Bakhmut highway) ;

– also the firing positions for the Russian terrorist artillery are prepared in the area of Dokuchayisk and Styla. For the moment the artillery units themselves are located to the east of the line Mospine – Komsomolske (5 122-mm or 152-mm mortars, 8 D-30 devices of cannon artillery and 8 BM-21 ‘Grad’ units of rocket artillery)”, – Dmytro Tymchuk reports.

Original article, translation edited by Oleksandr Klymenko