Russia deploys dozens of trucks, tanks, armoured personnel vehicles to occupied Donbas

In addition, a drone recorded more than 70 military-type trucks, repair and evacuation vehicles, two T-64 tanks and two BTR-80 armoured personnel vehicles in occupied Luhansk, the press service of the JFO Headquarters reports, citing the information from the Ukrainian side of the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination (JCCC).

"The Mission’s long-range unmanned aerial vehicle detected at least 30 tented trucks entering the territory temporarily uncontrolled by the Ukrainian Government from the Russian Federation, bypassing official checkpoints. During the subsequent observation flight of the Mission’s UAV, more than 70 military-type trucks, repair and evacuation vehicles, two T-64 tanks and two BTR-80 armoured personnel vehicles, which had been stationed in the occupied Luhansk, were spotted. In addition, 9K35 Strela-10 surface-to-air missile system was spotted near the residential area in the town of Khartsyzk” the statement reads.

As noted, Russia systematically supplies personnel, weapons, and military equipment to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In order to conceal the movement of occupation forces and hardware and to go unnoticed by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, the enemy uses dirt roads, bypassing official checkpoints.

In addition, there are constant violations of agreements on the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line, as well as the construction of fortifications and mining areas near disengagement areas and residential areas, which, of course, endangers civilians in Donbas. All these facts are confirmed by the representatives of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in their daily reports.

The JFO Headquarters also emphasizes that the Russian occupiers continue to use the civilians of Donbas as a human shield, equipping fortifications in residential areas of Horlivka. Two new trenches and protective structures have recently been discovered in the city. In addition, about 590 anti-tank mines were detected on the outskirts of the village of Shyroka Balka.

"All these facts show that the Russian invaders continue to demonstrate a persistent reluctance to abide by the Minsk agreements and openly ignore their commitments within the Trilateral Contact Group consultations. By their actions, they reaffirm their desire to further escalate the conflict by increasing arms and military equipment in the immediate vicinity of the contact line, jeopardizing civilians who live in the occupied inhabited localities," the statement says.

ol