Oleksandr Turchynov: Russian terrorist groups are trying to return to active phase of confrontation
Ukrainian line of defense is quite reliable, Army is ready to quickly and effectively respond to any threat. This was announced by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov in his interview to "Interfax-Ukraine".
Oleksandr Turchynov said that after signing the Minsk agreements the active phase of confrontation was stopped, but there wasn't a single day so that terrorist groups did not violate the ceasefire regime, and this means - wounded and killed soldiers almost every day.
"The task for Russia, which occupied the Crimea and some areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions, is to destabilize the country in any possible way and destroy Ukraine as an independent democratic state. We observe their constant attempts to disrupt the situation, returning to the active phase of confrontation. Not to provide the opportunity to realize the Minsk agreements and resolve the problem peacefully - this is the task which is now being implemented by the Kremlin" - he stressed.
According to NSDC Secretary, exactly this is a precondition that along the line of collision there are always some "hot" spots, such as the area of Donetsk airport, suburbs of Donetsk, Marinka, where the offensive took place recently, which was a fiasco and resulted in serious losses of the militants.
"Our troops being in close proximity to Donetsk annoys Russia very much, they understand there that Donetsk is constantly under the threat of full envelopment. At the same time, our line of defense is quite reliable, and an attempt of offensive reconnaissance, which they made in Marinka, wanting to make a breakthrough, to enter the rear of our Armed Forces, has demonstrated that we are prepared to quickly and effectively respond to any threat", - he said.
NSDC Secretary added that although Ukraine has fulfilled the requirements of Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of heavy weapons, a very limited time is needed to redeploy the reserves and to hit with artillery those trying to break through the defense line.
In addition, Oleksandr Turchynov said that at the border with Russia along the occupied territory a very powerful reserve of Russian Armed Forces is situated, including 56 tactical groups (42 battalion and 14 company groups), ready at any moment to cross the border and join up the offensive. "Russia wants to make Donbass a fatal wound for Ukraine and to achieve this they need to maintain the conflict in an active phase. That is why Russian contingent of troops at the occupied territories are not reduced", - he stressed.
According to NSDC Secretary, today at the occupied territory in some areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions 20 tactical groups (14 battalion and 6 company groups) of Russia's Armed Forces still remain.
At the same time Oleksandr Turchynov noted that the construction of fortifications on the line of collision has ran over time. "This is the final stage, and the task was set to complete by July 15th the construction of all three lines of defensive positions", - he stressed.
According to him, a government commission is being created now, which on July 15th begins the acceptance inspection of these structures. "Who will not meet the deadlines, or if the commission, composed of representatives of Ministry of Defense, General Staff and NSDC Staff, concludes that the work has been conducted poorly, then those responsible for the construction at the level not lower than deputy heads of administrations will be dismissed", - said Oleksandr Turchynov.