The number of attacks by occupiers in Donbas grows in geometric progression - JCCC
The number of shellings by Russian armed forces in the Donbas is growing exponentially.
The head of the Ukrainian side of the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Ceasefire Oleksandr Appolonov announced this in a comment to the Dim TV channel, Rubryka reports.
"I can confidently say that for the last 5 years, I don't remember such bold use of firepower by Russia's armed forces. Even if we look at last year, July 2020, after ceasefire agreements, the situation was better until the New Year.
They adhered to the ceasefire. But at the beginning of this year, in May and June, the shelling is growing exponentially," Apollonov said.
He cited the September 11 and 12 shelling as an example, when four Ukrainian servicemen were killed and 15 others were wounded.
During these two days, Russia's armed forces fired 47 mortars of 82 and 120 mm caliber, 122 mm caliber artillery, anti-tank missile systems, small arms, and other melee weapons.
Apollonov connects the increase in the number of shellings with several factors:
- with the beginning of the active phase of strategic exercises "Zakhid-2021,"
- the beginning of elections to the State Duma of Russia with the involvement of residents of ORDLO, who received passports from the Russian Federation,
- attempts to show humanity the power of their illegal armed groups by conducting some actions of hybrid warfare.
The head of the JCCC added that the Ukrainian side adhered to the ceasefire agreement.
According to the Central Intelligence Agency, the command of the Russian Armed Forces continues to increase the number of its troops in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas.
In particular, in units and parts of the 1st and 2nd Army Corps, meetings with snipers, artillery fire adjusters, and engineer-sapper units are planned, as well as complex tactical exercises with combat firing of the tank, mortar, and artillery units, including jet artillery units.
It is also reported that the occupiers continue to hold a significant number of sniper pairs at the forefront to inflict casualties on Joint Forces personnel, destroy video surveillance elements and provoke retaliatory fire.
