Pro Russian militias on attack prior to truce
2014-09-08
Posted by: badanov
By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
As Ukrainian forces abandoned their positions at the airport at Lugansk, those forces have been redeployed to the northwest along the Donetsk River to deal with the latest rebel attacks.
Up until the ceasefire pro Russian militias had been trying to drive Ukrainian military forces away from the river crossing near Schasyte and at other points in the area. The move was in line with the militias' other moves to expand their area of operation as quickly as possible as the truce was being negotiated.
Another purpose behind the increased tempo of operation was to drive Ukrainian artillery away from two of the main cities in contest, Donetsk and Lugansk. While the airport had been abandoned, destroyed by Ukrainian forces, the Donetsk airport remains in Ukrainian hands and at least one apparent center for artillery missions into the city.
According to the Ukrainian military blogger Roman Burko, militia attacks up until the ceasefire were nearly constant, and pro Russian militia have been trying at advance in other areas to the north of Donetsk, namely near Gorlovka. That city was a point of contention between the belligerents for several days as an unidentified Ukrainian armor unit attempted to drive into Donetsk from the north, but had been encircled near Zhdanivka and Rozivka. At last report, those Ukrainian forces were forced to withdraw to Debaltsevo under heavy artillery fire.
Further south along the southern coast of Donetsk oblast, according to Burko, one day before the ceasefire went into effect, pro Russian militia attempted to drive towards Mariupol, but were repelled.
Pro Russian militia encountered the Ukrainian Azov Battalion near the village of Shyrokyne, which is 23 kilometers east of Mariupol.
According to the data supplied, the area around the village had been fortified just before the attack took place. Militias used a tank company and a mechanized rifle company, supported by a 122mm artillery battery and 122mm rocket launchers.
The attack was repulsed when a Ukrainian artillery unit hit one heavy truck carrying militia infantry, and other forces destroyed or disabled two tanks. Militia forces responded with artillery fire, presumably as their forces were withdrawn.
Ukrainian forces defending the village reported five wounded.
Also, according to Burko, additional Russian troops in the Rostov region, just across the border were recorded moving in convoy along the Rostov-Taganrog highway, some of them detachments from larger divisional formations.
Among the units identified were battle groups including elements from the Russian 1st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division (Naro-Fominsk), the Russian 12th (or 13th) Tank Regiment of the 4th Guards Tank Division (Naro-Fominsk), the Russian 25th Motorized Rifle Brigade (Vladimir) and the Russian 27th Motorized Rifle Brigade (Vidnoe).
All of those units are from the Russian Western Military District, which protects approaches to the Moscow Military district and the Russian capital.
The brigade sized units are likely independent units attached to armies or military districts, but the regimental units are attached to divisional units, which indicate that the Russian have at least mobilized parts of the their maneuver forces in the Western Military District.
Also, the Russian army issued a call-up three weeks ago of all reservists for refresher training on new weapons systems. The call is said to end October, when presumably those reservists will be sent home.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com
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