National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine
Oleksandr Turchynov from the combat zone: The last week has hit a sad record in the number of shellings of our positions
Due to the aggravating situation in the East of Ukraine during the last week, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov arrived at Ukrainian positions in the Joint Forces Operation zone.
Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine held a meeting with military commandment and heads of security forces on the effectiveness of countering Russian aggression in the transition from the antiterrorist operation to the Joint Forces Operation.
According to Mr. Turchynov, the largest amount of shellings in half-a-year period has been conducted during the last week; not only positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine but also populated areas have been massively shelled.
"Artillery, tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, prohibited by the Minsk agreements, are used", - he said adding that the Ukrainian territory was shelled at a depth of up to 30 kilometers, which resulted in the destruction of civilian infrastructure and casualties not only among the military but also among civilians.
Moreover, Mr. Turchynov reported that Ukrainian intelligence observed an active concentration of Russian troops in the immediate vicinity to the Ukrainian-Russian border, which testifies to "the preparation of Russian military-political leadership for large-scale provocations and offensive actions that can be unleashed at any time".
Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine visited positions of the 24th separate mechanized brigade named after King Danylo Halytskyi in the Gorlovka area, where the highest density of shellings and military provocations by the Russian-terrorist forces has recently been recorded.
When being at the epicenter of hostilities near Zaitseve village and Pivdenne village, which was taken under the control of the Ukrainian military, Mr. Turchynov emphasized that despite constant provocations by the Russian-occupational troops "our fighters not only held the line but also have significantly improved their positions in order to minimize losses among the personnel and civilians".
"After the launch of the Joint Forces Operation, the coordination between the military and the National Guard, the National Police, the SSU and the border guards has improved significantly, which means that effectiveness and efficiency of the use of force potential to protect our country from Russia's aggression in the East have been raised as well", - Mr. Turchynov noted.