{"id":7834,"date":"2016-02-28T12:19:10","date_gmt":"2016-02-28T12:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/informnapalm.org\/en\/?p=7834"},"modified":"2016-03-03T07:24:29","modified_gmt":"2016-03-03T07:24:29","slug":"feb28-russian-mlrs-lunging-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/informnapalm.org\/en\/feb28-russian-mlrs-lunging-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"Participation of the Russian MLRS from the 18th Brigade in Lunging of Ukraine: Photo Facts and Geolocation"},"content":{"rendered":"

In 2014, a hybrid war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine had diverse character. It was not enough to supply weapons, equipment, mercenaries and even military personnel through the uncontrolled areas of the Russian-Ukrainian border in order to execute\u00a0the plans of annexation and holding of a territory. The Russian military command has repeatedly resorted the undisguised aggression conducting the attacks on the Ukrainian troops from the territory of Rostov Oblast. This OSINT-investigation of the InformNapalm international volunteer community presents another fact based on which all the mentioned\u00a0figurants can become witnesses and defendants of the future military tribunals.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ruslan Khafizov (on June 10, 1984) is a figurant of our investigation. He graduated from the Kazan Higher Artillery Command School named after marshal of artillery M.N. Chistyakov (page in \u2018VK\u2019<\/a>, \u2018My World\u2019 page<\/a> and the photo album<\/a>). Based on the information posted by himself in the social network, Khafizov is an officer of the Russian Armed Forces and has a captain rank. He serves in the missile\u00a0artillery battalion of the 18th separate motorized rifle brigade (military unit No. 27777, deployed\u00a0in Khankala and Kalinovskaya, Republic of Chechnya). These conclusions were made based on the following information \u2013 obtained military education and analysis of the photos where Ruslan is in the uniform in front of the military equipment. We draw your attention to the collar insignia on the field and parade uniform, the badge \u2018For Service in the Caucasus\u2019 and chevron of the 18th separate motorized rifle brigade.<\/p>\n

\"Selection_193\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

Rostov assignment<\/h2>\n

In the summer of 2014, Ruslan Khafizov\u2019s unit got an assignment to move to Rostov Oblast in order to conduct the ‘exercises’. We were able to establish\u00a0the\u00a0dispositions\u00a0of his unit using the photos’ geotags. Note that they were located between the Kuybyshevo and Novoshakhtinsk settlements at a distance of about 10 km from the border of Ukraine. The photos below were uploaded\u00a0to\u00a0the photo album in October of 2014. However, judging by the color of vegetation and brown skin of the war criminals, it seems that all these photos were made in the summer. It just proves that the \u2018assignment\u2019 ended in October of 2014.<\/p>\n

\"Selection_196\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Selection_197\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Selection_195\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Selection_198\"<\/a>Also at one of the photos Khafizov \u2018exposed\u2019 the military machines (2B26, \u2018Grad\u2019 MLRS mounted on KAMAZ-5350 and CSV) on the route march near the Kryukovo village. It is noteworthy that there are no any registration numbers on the automotive equipment.<\/p>\n

\"Selection_199\"<\/a> \"Selection_200\"<\/a>The photo below is the most interesting photo from our point of view. Here are three 2B26 machines in the firing position and fully ammo charged (in the beginning of February, 2016, volunteers of the InformNapalm already recorded these machines in the Ukrainian territory, so you can find more details here<\/a>). We were able to determine the exact location<\/a> (northeast of the Novaya Nadezhda<\/strong> settlement) and the direction of aiming for firing thanks\u00a0to the presence of geotag and reference points in the photo.<\/p>\n

\"Selection_201\"<\/a>\"Selection_203\"<\/a>For reference: \u2018Grad\u2019 MLRS depending on the type of missiles can hit targets at distances up to 20 km and with the new ammo (like 9M521) up to 40 km. The screenshots below show the direction of aiming, the presumable impact point when shooting at maximum range, as well as the impact zone in case of change the fire direction.<\/p>\n

\"Selection_204\"<\/a>We remind you that in the summer of 2014 the Russian Armed Forces actively used cannon and missile artillery for striking\u00a0Ukraine from Rostov Oblast. The one of the most famous cases was the shelling from the town of Gukovo. You can find more details in the article \u201cPositions of the \u2018Grad\u2019 MLRS, which Fired on the Ukrainian Territory from the Russian Federation, Have Been Determined<\/a>\u201d (RU). Also, analyzing the summary of the events in July-August 2014, we found the evidence of the MLRS attacks on the positions of the 79th airmobile brigade near the Dyakove and Bobrykove villages (more details are available here<\/a> (RU) and here<\/a> (UK)). It is clear from the screenshot above that all these settlements also were in the impact zone<\/strong> of the Khafizov’s unit. In addition, on July 19, 2014, the positions of ATO forces near the state border between\u00a0Ukraine and Russia were shelled three times during the day. This was announced by Dmitry Tymchuk, the Head of the \u2018Information resistance\u2019\u00a0group. The shelling was carried out from the Russian territory using \u2018Grad\u2019 MLRS and mortars. The firing positions of the Russian combat crews, which attacked the Ukrainian forces, were located near the Novaya Nadezhda<\/strong> settlement (Rostov Oblast, Russia). Afterwards, Pavlo Klimkin, the Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, called the shelling of the Ukrainian territory as an act of the Russian aggression (the source is UNN<\/a> \u2013 RU).<\/p>\n

Awards<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The one of the interesting moments in our investigation is the fact of awarding the captain Khafizov with\u00a0the state military<\/strong> awards in a peacetime:<\/p>\n