Oleksandr Turchynov at Svitlodarsk salient: The Armed Forces of Ukraine will give an adequate respond to all the provocations of Russian hybrid troops

Taking into account the worsening of the situation in the Svitlodarsk salient area, systematic provocations by Russian-terrorist groupings and intensification of hostilities, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov arrived at the place of escalation, where he held a meeting with the antiterrorist operation military leadership.

Staying at the forward positions of the 54th Brigade that "heroically absorbed the enemy's offensive", Mr. Turchynov examined defensive positions of our troops, discussed the situation, which had developed in this part of the front in recent days, with Ukrainian defenders. According to Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine, shellings of our positions with the use of large-scale artillery and mortars prohibited by the Minsk agreements have been constantly carried out the fourth day in a row. "A sort of "record" was established in the number of shells and mines fired by our positions in the Svitlodarsk salient area - over 800 a day", - he noticed.

"Despite continuous attacks and attempts to break through our defense, Ukrainian military servicemen courageously and professionally fulfilled their duty having stopped the enemy and having imposed significant losses on him", - Oleksandr Turchynov said. He added that our military counterattacked, moved forward and took up new positions, "which gave them an extra advantage over the enemy in this defense sector".