Military activity spikes in northern Lugansk
2014-11-19
Posted by: badanov
For a map, click here. You can enlarge the map, if you open it separately.
By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Attacks by Donbas rebel militia intensified in northern Lugansk over the weekend, and Ukrainian military forces responded in kind, according to Russian language news accounts.
Much of the fighting centered around river crossings on the Northern Donetsk River and a highway linking Lugansk to points west.
Most of the rebel forces are south of the T1303 highway that links Lugansk city with the settlement of Orokhove. The Ukrainian military maintains a number of military checkpoints along that highway, many of which have come under artillery fire, including Checkpoint 31.
Much of the intensified activity is because rebel forces appear to want to cut off the main supply route leading from Kharkov well to the northwest, and Schastye, which is a bridgehead maintained by the Ukrainian military since late August. Their attacks are focused on river crossings that are less than three kilometers north of the T1303 highway
Since the start of the ceasefire last September, rebel forces have been constantly attacking Schastye using infantry and artillery. At least one recent attempt to encircle the city by the Donbas rebels has failed.
According to data supplied by the pro rebel Voice of Sevastopol, Donbas rebel forces with artillery have attacked several points in the region including at Gorskoye, which is a terminus of T1303, in response to a Ukrainian artillery attack on the town of Pervomaisk.
About two kilometers north of Graskoye, Donbas rebel artillery struck a Ukrainian checkpoint at Toshkova. Donbas rebels report destroying a pontoon ferry on the Northern Donetsk River by artillery fire.
Ukrainian and rebel artillery units exchanged fire at Smeloye and Tryokhizbyonka, both locations on or near T1303. Ukrainian artillery fire was reported at Faschevka coming from Debaltsevo as well.
A separate report by Donbas rebels said a tank engagement took place near T1303, but details were not disclosed.
Donbas rebel activity also extends north of the river as well. Reportedly, Ukrainian artillery was spotted firing from the airport at Severodonesk city at undisclosed rebel positions, with Donbas rebel mortar fire responding against Ukrainian positions at Boroskoye.
Northeast of Lugansk city near Stanitsa Luganskaya, Donbas rebels report direct fighting. Ukrainian forces have reportedly set a bridge over the Derkul River for demolition at Krasnaya Talovka, which is directly adjacent to the Russian border.
Donetsk city
Ukrainian artillery units positioned at Peski and Avedeyvka continued to shell several points in Donetsk city, including in the Kuibyshevsky and Oktyabrsky districts as well as on rebel positions at the old terminal in the airport. Rebel media in recent days have been reporting the use of white phosphorus artillery shells being used, although no hard video or photographic evidence has yet to emerge.
Fighting also was reported in settlements near the city including at Avdeyevka, Gorlovka, Yenakiyevo and Olkhovatka.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com. You can read past articles about the 2014 war in southeastern Ukraina by clicking here.
If you have something to add, Fire Away!
Number of Comments so far: 0
Click here for a list of stories in the The 2014 War in Ukraina category