Editorial comment: Notice that this Russian-supported aggression is taking place against the background of about three years of fierce fighting between the troops of the Kiev government, installed in the neo-Nazi coup orchestrated by the U.S. in February 2014, and the ethnic Russians in the Donbass area, who did not want to depend on the illegal Poroshenko government. Add to that the extraordinarily aggressive amassing of recently arrived US troops along the Russian border in Poland.
See: War in Donbass on “Russia’s Doorstep”: 3,600 Civilians Killed by Ukrainian Forces and Neo-Nazi Militia since Minsk II Agreement
and US Tanks Fire Salvos in Poland as 'Message' to Russia -- NATO General Ben Hodges -- SON
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Russian forces continue their attacks in the area of Avdiivka in Donbas,
with the use of heavy artillery and mortars, according to the
Anti-Terrorist Operation Headquarters.
“The invaders are not even stopped with the fact of losses they have
sustained as a result of the attempts to seize Ukrainian positions,” the
report reads.
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| Eastern Ukraine -- Donbass area on the right. Blue & yellow areas are Luhansk Oblast (region) and Donetsk Oblast, under control of Ukraine coup-installed government. Luhansk and Donetsk are the main centers of the separatist area in the east, inhabited by ethnic Russians. Avdiivka is in Donetsk Oblast, right on the border of Russian separatist area. |
At the same time, the press service of the 72nd Guards Motorized Rifle
Brigade wrote on Facebook that the militants took advantage of a short
ceasefire and attacked the positions of the Armed Forced of Ukraine
(AFU) near Avdiivka: “An hour ago, the enemy requested a truce and,
taking advantage of the calm, launched an attack. The attack was
repulsed, and the enemy stopped. The battle is still ongoing.”
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| Shelling Avdiivka from Donetsk by Russian troops |
As reported by the press center of ATO headquarters, Avdiivka remains
one of the hottest places along the demarcation line. As of 4:00,
Russian occupants released on the Ukrainian positions over 80 missiles
from BM-21 Grad MLRS and 30 artillery shells of 152 mm caliber. The
enemy also fired 120mm, 82mm mortars, tanks and small arms.
“In addition, the occupants overnight made another attempt to storm the AFU positions, which was repulsed,” the statement said.
As reported earlier, the Russian side has provided a guarantee to the
Joint Center for Coordination and Control (STSKK) on a seven-hour
ceasefire near Avdiivka, from 10:00 to 17:00. According to the ATO
headquarters, January 29, the invaders repeatedly tried to storm the
Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka, and were forced to retreat, having
suffered losses.
As a result of shelling, Avdiivka is left without water, electricity
and heat. This was reported on Facebook by Pavlo Zhebrivskyi, the
governor of Donetsk oblast.
“Russian have just killed the power line to Avdiivka. The
Donetsk filtration plant and Avdiivka coke plant, which provided heat
for Avdiivka, are now de-energized. The city is left without water,
electricity and heat,” Zhebrivskyi said.
Current temperature in Avdiivka is -18°C, without central heating
civilians will not survive. Ukrainian Emergency services prepared to
evacuate 12 000 people from Avdiivka.
Also see: Kremlin states the escalation in Donbas is the additional opportunity to improve relations with the U.S.
Source: UA position
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