Fighting continues in southeast Ukraina subject logo: DONBASWAR
2014-08-25
Posted by: badanov

By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com

Intensive fighting near Ilovaisk in southeast Ukraina enters its fifth day, according to data supplied by English and Russian language news sources.

Since late last week Ukrainian army and police forces have been trying to drive a wedge between the two most critical cities in the Donbass conflict, Donetsk and Lugansk in several areas, namely near Krasnii Luch, but mostly near Ilovaisk, which is about 12 to 15 kilometers southeast of Donetsk.

According to the pro Ukrainian news website, as reported Saturday at Rantburg.com, Ukrainian military forces had reportedly abandoned their offensive near Ilovaisk after attempting several times since last Thursday for force a decision.

A report from pro Russian militia now holding Ilovaisk is that a counterattack from the west was defeated. Militia forces holding the line Zelenoye-Pridorzhnoye-Grabskoye west of Ilovaisk, said a Ukrainian force attempting to breach the line was stopped.

According to the Voice of Sevastopol, militia forces estimate that the number of Ukrainian forces of all kinds in the Ilovaisk region number 4,000 troops, the equivalent of two combat brigades, while militia forces number about 1,500.

Pro Russian militias report fighting in the Krasnii Luch region near Krasny Luch and Anthracite.

"Separate clashes with the punitive troops took place in settlements Bolshaya Vergunka, Stanichno-Luganskoye and Malonikolaevka. During the heavy fighting near Petrovskoye Southeast Army soldiers have destroyed one tank, three infantry fighting vehicles..."

Pro Russian militia groups claim that Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from Torez and Snezhnoye both of which are about eight kilometers southwest of Krasnii Luch.

Meanwhile, further north and north of Lugansk pro Russian militia have been counterattacking Ukrainian military forces attempting to push them away from the city, which is a terminus for Russian aid to the region.

Militia forces are fighting near Stanitsa Luganskaya, which just a few kilometers north of Lugansk.

About 40 kilometers north of Lugansk in Severodonetsk and Lisicansk , pro Russian militia infantry and motorized infantry troops have launched a massive attack against Ukrainian forces. Reports are Ukrainian units are in panic, although the report fails to note if they are in flight. Militia forces have already seized Belaya Gora and Borovskoe, which is just to the southeast of Severodonetsk. According to a separate report the firefight lasted three hours.

Just on the outskirts of Lugansk to the northwest pro Russian militia have established a defensive line near Petrovka

South of Lugansk, militia forces have attacked two settlements, Palievka and Lutugino. Another settlement, which was bypassed from the southeast Volnukhino, is now controlled by militia forces.

Shelling of Donetsk continued, according to pro Russian sources.

Artillery strikes were reported in Kalinin and Petrovsky districts, near the bus station Krasnogvardeiskoye highway and the Pokrovsky market. A militia checkpoint was reportedly fired on, but no injuries were reported. The highly effective Russian made Urugan MRL 220mm rocket launcher was used in this and other attacks.

Ukrainian forces also continue to attempt to bring in artillery spotters, and intelligence and special fores into the city, as well as press harder against the lines held by pro Russian militias.

Militia forces fired artillery against Ukrainian positions near Kutelnikovo, which is a few kilometers southeast of Donetsk. Further southeast of that location pro Russian militia claimed to have ambushed an armored personnel carrier near Amvrosievka.

Further east, fighting has been reported near Uspenka.

Also southeast a Ukrainian police unit reportedly lost one APC and 12 killed near Vasilievka.

Chris Covert writes news for Rantburg.com

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