Ukrainian armed forces launch new attacks on Lugansk, Donetsk regions
13 July 2014, 18:36 -- Ukrainian law enforcement units have launched another attack on both Lugansk and a Donetsk suburb using Grad launchers, Interfax reports the self-defense forces of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics as saying on Sunday. 'Immediate reports suggest that Ukrainian forces are storming the city from Aleksandrovka in an offensive supported by 50 tanks and two fighter bombers,' a spokesman for the self-defense command in Lugansk told Interfax
'Ukrainian law enforcement units renewed the offensive on Maryinka, a Donetsk suburb, at about 3 p.m. Moscow time, using Grad launchers, tanks and artillery systems,' a spokesman for the Southeast Front Konstantin Knyrik told Interfax.
'A cameraman from the Anna-News information agency came under fire in an attack launched by Ukrainian forces,' he said.
As yet no official confirmation of these reports have been given by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, despite having suspended operations, Donetsk, Gukovo and Novoshakhtinsk border checkpoints in Russia's Rostov region continue to accept refugees from southeastern Ukraine, Interfax cites spokesman for the Russian Border Service, Rostov regional department, Vasily Malayev as saying.
'Three chekpoints - Donetsk, Gukovo and Novoshakhtinsk - have suspended work under the threat of shelling from Ukraine, but they continue to receive refugees from southeastern Ukraine,' Malayev said.
The other checkpoints on the Russian-Ukrainian stretch of the border in the Rostov region are operational, he added.
'The situation [on the Russian-Ukrainian border] is being closely monitored by the Defense Ministry and special services. Security is being maintained at an appropriate level in Crimea and in all other Russian regions,' Interfax cites Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying to the Russian News Service on Saturday.
A Russian border patrol guarding the Russian-Ukrainian border stretch in the Kuibyshev district of Rostov Region was earlier targeted in a gunfire attack, launched from Ukraine.
Ukrainian army shelling Donetsk all night long - Donetsk People's Republic
Ukraine's heavy artillery shelled Donetsk all night long, the Donetsk People's Republic militia said. 'The cannonade continued all through the night until 8 am. The sound of explosions was coming from all parts of Donetsk,' Southeast Front spokesman, Konstantin Knyrik, told Interfax. 'Immediate reports indicate that Grad launchers were used. Reports of casualties are being verified,' Knyrik said.
The Kramatorsk airport was another scene of fighting, he continued.
'Explosions were heard in the vicinity of the airport. The intensity of the shelling attack and the blast yield would suggest that Grad launchers were not used. Ukrainian military hardware was actively being redeployed in the vicinity of the airport. The city is being patrolled by reinforced groups of Ukrainian policemen,' he said.
The situation was serious in populated areas of the Lugansk region last night, Knyrik said.
'Warplanes circled over Perevalsk at about 5 am. Information has been received that the Ukrainian military has dispatched 20 women snipers to there, who have taken up positions and deliver aimed fire and using silencers. A large amount of military hardware has been positioned near this populated area,' he said.
According to Dontesk City Council's press service, twelve people were killed on July 12 during the gun attack of private houses in the Trudovskaya coal mine's residential area in Donetsk's Petrovsky district.
'The Donetsk City Council is conveying condolences to the victims' relatives and families. The city funeral service will bury the dead at its own expense,' the press service cited Mayor Alexander Lukyanchenko as saying on Sunday.
Despite the fact that, according to local residents, sporadic shots and submachine gun bursts are heard in the Bosse district, the city's 'life support systems are working as usual. Public transport services are run according to weekend schedule,' the press service stated.
Ukrainian army uses about 70 tanks in offensive on Lugansk - Donbass self-defense
Ukrainian law enforcement units have assumed a large-scale offensive on Lugansk, the militia said.
'Fierce fighting is underway on the limits of Lugansk. The situation is not clear yet, but reports that the enemy deployed two compact armored groups of about 70 tanks in all, are being confirmed. Immediate unverified reports indicate that a special police task force was dropped on the city from helicopters,' Vladislav Brig, spokesman for the Donbass militia, wrote on Facebook.
The offensive on Lugansk was launched from the southern and western directions, he said, Interfax reports.
Six civilians killed in fighting in Lugansk over 24 hours
Six civilians have been killed in fighting in Lugansk over the past 24 hours, the Lugansk City Council's press service said on Sunday.
'One hundred and eighty-eight ambulance calls were received, including seven from victims of gunfire. Six civilians were killed in the fighting,' the press service said.
Armed standoff was reported in several areas near the city on July 12.
'A building was destroyed, the roof damaged, windows blown out and electric power line cut by a shell in the Kamenny Brod district. A shell hit the courtyard near several apartment buildings, damaging the gas pipeline and blowing out windows. Another shell hit a stop at the bus terminal,' the press service said, Interfax reports.
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_07_13/Ukrainian-armed-forces-launch-new-attacks-on-Lugansk-Donetsk-regions-1329/
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