The Anti-Terrorist Operation in Ukraine: Summary for August 4, 2014

Donetsk Region: North of Donetsk and Horlivka

Today Ukrainian troops released Yasynuvata, although confirmation of the situation is still required. This town is an important strategic objective that gives control over the roads to Donetsk from the North. However we should not over-estimate the strategic meaning of this area in the battle for Donetsk. We do not think that terrorists use railways for transporting cargos, and the way from Horlovka to Donetsk via Yenakijeve is still is under the control of terrorist forces.

We received disturbing information about terrorist forces in Horlivka, where some terrorists managed to skillfully hide their positions in Holmivskiy village. Recall that the Ukrainian forces surrounding Horlivka have already struck against the dolomite plant and the special school. These buildings were occupied by terrorists. It is most likely that after the attack the terrorists scattered through the woods in the area of the dolomite plant. It is possible that the terrorists returned to their positions later thinking that lightning does not strike twice. In addition there is unconfirmed information that there are terrorists forces in the area of Molochny village, and this could indicate the potential of a counter-attack against Ukrainian forces in Debaltseve area. The potential of an attack on Debaltseve from Irmino was raised yesterday.

Donetsk Region: West and South of Donetsk City

After a successful counter-attack by the terrorists in the Marinka area Ukrainian troops were forced to retreat. However, today the Ukrainian forces returned to their former positions with the help of the volunteer battalions “Shakhtarsk” and “Azov”. Together they pushed the terrorists out of the Marinka area. Official representatives even talk about an assault of Donetsk which will allegedly happen in the near future.

Today on the terrorists’ Zello-channels a meeting of the their leaders was announced where supposedly Girkin would allow all the leaders to “slide out” of Donetsk. This sounds strange considering all the military equipment moved from Khartsyzk to Donetsk. And if they leave then where will they go? Possibly the announcement can be distraction while planning to make a new counter-attack in Marinka with the aim of pushing out towards Mariupol. This is where the Russian forces are presumably preparing a breakthrough. It was noted that in the evening, by 21:00 – 21:30, several armored vehicles of terroristsmoved from Donetsk towards the Mariupol highway.

Donetsk Region: Eastern/Central Areas

Concerning the eastern sector Ukrainian forces continued to mount an attack on Shakhtarsk. Troops managed to entrench on the outskirts of the town, but this is still far from the full release of the town.

Luhansk Region: The City and Southern areas

In the border area the groupings of terrorist forces using tanks and MLRS BM-21 “Grad” attacked the positions of the 72^nd and 51^st Brigades in the Chervonpartyzansk area. After prolonged shelling Ukrainian troops and border guards had to retreat, and crossed the border into the Russian Federation. They were forced to make this unexpected maneuver to keep their forces intact and avoid destruction. This attack was the consequence of the unblocking of the roads between Dmytrivka and Diakove by Ukrainian forces. With this development ATO would have soon been able to get reinforcements to these two brigades, which is why the terrorists decided to quickly launch their massed attack. Today the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine declared that they were working on getting the troops returned.

Ukrainian forces continued the attack on Luhansk from the north, and it is finally confirmed that Velyka Verhunka has been liberated from terrorist forces. But the question of the unblocking of the Ukrainain forces in Lutuhyne (airport area) is still unresolved, and reinforcements from the Russian Federation continue to cross the border.

Edited by Larry Field