Oleksandr Turchynov from the area of ATO: by the number of shellings – it’s actually a warfare
153 shellings of our positions during just one day - it's actually a warfare. In this way NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov, while being in sector "B" of our defense, commented on the situation, which has developed in the area of ATO. "During the day of our work in the area of ATO, the enemy have shelled Ukrainian position 153 times", - NSDC Secretary said, adding that two soldiers were killed and ten - got wounded.
Oleksandr Turchynov called this day a "black record" since the date of signing of the Minsk agreements. "Actually, such intensity of shelling corresponds to the situation of active warfare", - he stressed. In addition, NSDC Secretary informed of the available data concerning the redeployment and concentration of artillery, armored vehicles and troops of the Russian-terrorist groupings in close proximity to our defensive lines, "that indicates the enemy's preparation for assault and offensive actions". He noted that similar attempts to break through our defense have already occurred in Marinka and in the direction of Novolaspa-Starohnativka.
"We are building an active defense, - NSDC Secretary emphasized, - and our military are ready to not only protect the defensive lines, but, in case of enemy's attempt to break them through and advance the attack, to effectively counterattack the enemy." He also stressed, that the reliable protection of our soldiers at the epicenter of the hostilities should be a priority for the military leadership. According to him, the largest number of shellings by the Russian-terrorist groupings occurs in sector "B", "and in the epicenter of hostilities in sector "B" are our positions in the neighborhood of Avdiivka, Opytne, Pisky and Vodyane, where we have worked at the defense lines".
"The shellings are conducted here actually around the clock, with the use of heavy-caliber artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, prohibited by the Minsk agreements", - NSDC Secretary emphasized, stressing that this makes it much more difficult to build up a protective engineering infrastructure of the defensive lines. "On the other hand, - Oleksandr Turchynov noted, - it is exactly at such locations our military risk the most and therefore they need the best protection possible."
This subject became one of the working issues of NSDC Secretary and the leadership of Ministry of Defense and the General Staff as well as the military engineers at combat positions near the towns of Avdiivka, Opytne, Pisky and Vodyane. Our military engineers have to offer the scheme of strengthening the defensive lines and protection of our military in conditions of constant shellings", - he said. After examining the new armament and military equipment, which is being redeployed to the area of conducting the antiterrorist operation, NSDC Secretary stressed that by providing our Armed Forces with new weapons and military equipment "we are forming the active defense in the area of ATO".
He also emphasized that, strengthening our military potential, "we strictly adhere to the Minsk agreements". Oleksandr Turchynov explained that artillery is stationed exceptionally at a distance, agreed upon in the Minsk protocol. "At the same time, the active defense presupposes a quick and effective response to any provocation, performed by the enemy" - he said.