The anti-terrorist operation (ATO) forces are continuing to hold operations on the elimination of members of illegal armed groups in eastern Ukraine, the head of the Information Resistance group (sprotyv.info), Dmytro Tymchuk, has said.
“The offensive of the ATO forces simultaneously in different directions in Luhansk and Donetsk regions has prevented the organization by terrorists of defense at all sections due to the acute shortage of manpower and weapons,” he wrote on his page on Facebook on Wednesday morning, Aug. 13.
In particular, he noted that the lack of resources for the organization of defense in the Shakhtarsk-Torez-Snizhne area had helped Ukrainian servicemen stop attempts by members of illegal armed groups to bring reinforcements to the area.
“This helped the ATO forces cut the H21 highway, through which the enemy’s group near Donetsk had a link with LPR and through which arms and mercenaries were supplied from Russia,” he said.
In addition, he said that illegal armed groups were being blocked in the area of Alchevsk and Stakhanov.
“The ATO forces are also fulfilling the task on blocking militant groups near Luhansk and unblocking the airport in this city, where security forces are holding the line,” Tymchuk asid.
At the same time, he said, members of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic continued shelling Ukrainian positions.
“The positions and roadblocks of the ATO forces near Ilovaisk, Petrovske, Stukalova Balka, Krynychky, Shyshkove, and Nyzhniy Minchenok were shelled with mortars, cannon artillery and BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers,” he said.
He also said that the positions of government forces at the Luhansk airport had come under tank fire and that a Ukrainian military truck had been shelled from civilian cars near the settlement of Petrovka.
“The positions of the ATO forces near the settlements of Illinka and Stepanivka were shelled from the direction of Russia three times. Shells were fired from BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers and cannon artillery,” Tymchuk wrote.
