РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

O.Turchynov: The greatest intensity of the enemy fighting actions is marked in Donetsk and Mariupol directions

In connection with the escalation of current situation in the ATO area the Secretary of National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov went to the front line of defense of our Armed Forces.

After a working meeting with ATO military leaders, O.Turchynov checked the readiness of our military forces in the nearby Mariupol and visited bases in Shyrokyno and also other defensive positions on the southern defensive frontiers.

According to his words, the Russian occupation troops consisting of the 1st and the 2nd Army Corps greatly increased the number of bombardments which are "carried out with daring disregard for agreements on taking heavy weapons aside from the contact line." "The enemy daily uses for attacks forbidden by Minsk II 152-mm and 122-mm guns, 120-mm mortars and Multi Launching Rocket Systems" - said the Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine, adding that significantly increased the usage activity of professionally trained sabotage and reconnaissance groups and snipers.

O.Turchynov stressed that recently noticed the creation by enemy of specialized mortar mobile groups which are "specialized in the defeat of the military and civilian targets and fire considering travel routes of the OSCE observer groups."

"These provocative actions lead to increased losses among the personnel of the ATO forces, as well as civilian casualties and, according to the Kremlin leadership concepts, are intended to disrupt completely the agreement reached in Minsk" - said the Secretary of the NSDC.

O.Turchynov also informed that the largest intensity of the enemy activity is marked in Donetsk and Mariupol directions. He said the occupation forces are intensively supplied by weapons, ammunition and fuel, and operational reserves are accumulated. "All this is the proof of the preparation by Russian General Staff training offensive operations", - he said, adding that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are ready to give an adequate response to any provocation aggressor.