РНБОУ National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine

Oleksandr Turchynov from the Avdiivka Industrial zone: We must be ready to respond to any provocations of Russian hybrid troops all along the contact line

Due to the escalation in the antiterrorist operation zone, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov on behalf of the President of Ukraine came to the place of active hostilities in the Avdiivka region, where he held meetings with the military leadership, the heads of law enforcement bodies, the leadership of the Donetsk military-civil administration and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

During the meeting with the leadership of the Donetsk military-civil administration and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the issues of restoring the damaged civilian infrastructure in Avdiivka, providing the region with heat and electricity, repairs and assistance to the affected citizens were considered.

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine expressed his satisfaction with the work of the Anti-crisis staff headed by the chairman of the Donetsk regional military-civil administration Pavlo Zhebrivskyi. Recovery works to restore water and power supply are being finished in Avdiivka. Also, works to restore power transmission lines were launched, after which the city will work normally.

Based on information of the Anti-crisis staff leadership, thanks to coordinated and clear actions of all services, no single person in Avdiivka froze down; life in the city goes back to normal mode, so there are no grounds for evacuation of citizens.

Oleksandr Turchynov also visited the tent city that operates round-the-clock. The SES servicemen provide humanitarian aid to residents there (free food, heating, and medical aid).

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine discussed with the military leadership and the heads of law enforcement bodies the situation along the contact line developed because of massive provocations of Russian hybrid troops.

According to Mr. Turchynov, systematic provocations occurred in many places all along the contact line. "Active shellings of our positions and attempts to attack our defensive lines are carried out. Apart from heavy artillery and mortars prohibited by the Minsk agreements, the enemy began to actively use tank units and multiple launch rocket systems", - he said adding that in most cases the fire is carried out "treacherously from residential quarters of the occupied cities".

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine stressed that the most dangerous is the situation near the Avdiivka city area "where an unprecedented amount of shellings of our positions, civil infrastructure facilities and residential buildings is carried out".

"Even today, - he noticed, - from five to nine in the morning, Russian hybrid troops conducted four combat assaults on our positions. In between the assaults, they carried out powerful shellings using the "Grad" MLRS. The city of Avdiivka was damaged as well - 20 civilian houses were damaged".

"All offensive attempts of the militants were thwarted by professional actions of our military", - he noted adding that the enemy suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat.

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine also worked on the front line of defense in Avdiivka Industrial zone where the most active military clashes take place.

On the front defensive line, Oleksandr Turchynov, having talked to officers and soldiers, checked the supply status of the positions of our military, paid particular attention to the protection and provision of the personnel taking into consideration the conduct of combat missions in adverse weather conditions, particularly in cold.

The military servicemen were assigned with the task to specify operational plans in case of offensive operations of Russian hybrid troops, taking into account the preparation of effective counter-attack actions.

"Because of the aggressive actions of Russian hybrid troops, who deliberately resort to the aggravation of the situation, we must be ready to respond to any provocations all along the contact line", - Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine summarized.