Militias claim Ukrainians preparing new offensive
2014-10-01
Posted by: badanov
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By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Military operations in northern Donetsk city by both pro Russian militias and Ukrainian troops continue to intensify as both sides move fresh troops to the region, according to the pro Russian Voice of Sevastopol news outlet.
Despite obligations agreed to in the September 19th Minsk ceasefire agreement, according to militias Ukrainian artillery units have continued to fire artillery strikes in Donetsk city itself, hitting some residential areas.
For their part militias admit returning counterbattery fire in an effort to destroy Ukrainian artillery.
Militias have also committed to taking the airport, located north of the city, which has been in Ukrainian hands for weeks. Last week militias took at least part of the airfield, but are having difficulty driving the Ukrainians from their fortified positions.
One reason may be that Ukrainian military units are occupying structures at the airport meant to withstand nuclear blasts.
Sunday militia reports were that 850 Ukrainian troops had managed to slip into the airport, including paratroopers from the 25th Airborne Brigade.
Militias have launched artillery strikes against Ukrainian positions west and northwest of the airport at Avdeyevka, Marinka and Krasnogorovka.
Ukrainian artillery units have been firing on areas and towns in and near Donetsk, including Peski, the Kievsky district on Economicheskaya Street and on residential areas in Petrovsky District.
A number of engagements between militias and Ukrainian military units have taken place in areas northeast of Donetsk and areas south, including areas north of Mariupol.
Reports from militias are that they expect a major attack on the airport using as many as 8,000 troops. Those attacks are expected to come from areas held by the Ukrainians well north of Donetsk city.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com
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