Ukraine update - 06/14/2014

"Unconfirmed but deemed reliable sources indicate chemical weapons and/or biological weapons to be used in Peoples Republic of Donetsk against civilian and Army Novorossiya targets coupled with simultaneous high casualty attacks against civilian targets in central and west Ukraine. Unconfirmed but reliable reports state Ambassador J. Pyatt of USA knows of this plan. Operations are scheduled for 3 to 5 days from 12 June 2014"

49 Ukrainian troops killed as transport plane downed in Lugansk

RT,

14 June, 2014

Forty-nine Ukrainian troops were killed when their military Il-76 transport jet was taken down by local militia forces just before landing at Lugansk Airport. Some military hardware and supplies were lost as well.

The death toll was confirmed by the Ukrainian General Prosecutor’s office on Saturday morning in a statement, which said nine crew members and 40 troops were killed.

Earlier the Defense Ministry said the troops were being transported to the Lugansk Airport for rotation along with military equipment and supplies.

Lugansk self-defense forces confirmed that they were behind the downing of the transport aircraft.

“It was hit with a rocket. We believe there were military troops on board,” a spokesman for the militia HQ told RIA Novosti.

CCTV video of alleged rocket hit of Ukrainian Il-76 transport plane in Lugansk.

The Il-76 is a heavy military transport aircraft that usually has a crew of seven and can transport up to 167 soldiers with weapons.

The downing of the plane overnight Friday was apparently the biggest single loss of Kiev loyalist forces, which has been waging a military crackdown on defiant eastern provinces for three months.
Video of a fire that allegedly started at the crash site of the downed Ukrainian military transport

Meanwhile in Donetsk region, shooting resumed in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk late on Friday as the Ukrainian military continued its crackdown on self-defense forces in the country's east, a self-defense representative said.

Kiev’s military operation in eastern Ukraine has been intensifying. On Thursday, the Ukrainian military reportedly dropped phosphorous bombs on the town of Slavyansk.

A Ukrainian military Il-76 jet (RIA Novosti / Natalia Seliverstova)

Much of the village of Semyonovka, located in the Slavyansk suburbs, was set ablaze. Local residents told RT that the ground didn't stop burning for some time.

The use of incendiary bombs – designed to start fires using materials such as napalm, white phosphorus or other dangerous chemicals – is strictly prohibited by the UN.

Moscow demanded an immediate investigation into the reported use of incendiary bombs in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

Russian bordergaurds examine Ukrainian tank that broke down on Russian territory

June 13th Combat SITREP by Juan

Vineyard of the Saker,

13 June, 2014

1. Fighting central Mariupol near Novorossiya command post. Increasing intensity 06:15 13 June.

2. Minimum 3 main battle tanks Nats Army outside Lugansk captured by Army Novorossiya and are in use by new owners.

3. White Phosphorus artillery shells used to bombard several villages around Slavyansk and Slavyansk City late evening and night. Fires in one village and Slavyansk City.

4. Unconfirmed but deemed reliable sources indicate chemical weapons and/or biological weapons to be used in Peoples Republic of Donetsk against civilian and Army Novorossiya targets coupled with simultaneous high casualty attacks against civilian targets in central and west Ukraine. Unconfirmed but reliable reports state Ambassador J. Pyatt of USA knows of this plan. Operations are scheduled for 3 to 5 days from 12 June 2014. Army Novorossiya is to be implicated in chemical and terror attacks.

5. Strong Nats armor column advancing on Lugansk City has been stopped on the outskirts by local self defense units. Several Nats tanks and BTR's destroyed in fighting.

6. Civilian dead from bombardments Slavyansk area night of 12 June including at least 2 children.

7. Refugees crossing Krimea and Rostov borders increasing. Combined numbers approaching 25,000. RF is housing all refugees asking help. Many refugee stay with relatives in RF and are not included in this total.

8. Reports of two Mi24 and one SU25 shot down Lugansk area 12 June. No photos of impact sight, so unconfirmed.

9. OSCE head Lamberto Zannier visits refugees near Rostov na Danu 12 June, says situation 'distressing'.

10. Small bus evacuating children from Slavyansk fired on by right sector 21:00

12 June. 2 children one adult wounded. Bus clearly marked with white flag and sign in windows 'children'. Children returned to Slavyansk.

11. Report of fresh mass grave found near Krasni Lehmahn containing bodies young men, unconfirmed by photo evidence.

12. Heavy fighting Mariupol 07:45 13 June, two block posts central city. DAI blocking roads, telling civilians to stay in. Fighting shown live Spilno TV team. 

Refugees in Russia

About 9.6 thousand refugees arrived to Rostov region during the last 24 hours - this is 1.7 thousand more than one day earlier – informed Pavel Astakhov, RF President Proxy on Children’s Rights.

“During the last 24 hours 9603 Ukrainian citizens have entered Russia through Rostov region. Additional 553 people have been accommodated in Rostov region, 243 of them are children.” – wrote the ombudsman on his Instagram page.

Astakhov told that the rest of the refugees went to their relatives, friends or other regions as transit.

Kolomoyskiy proposed to fence off Russia

Via Facebook

Deputy Head of Dnepropetrovsk regional state administration Gennadiy Korban sent to the Executive Office of the President of Ukraine engineering project and feasibility study of the building of strengthened wall along the border with Russia. 

The length of the wall will be 1920 km. It will cost 100 mln. EUR.

"This project was proposed by the Head of the Dnepropetrovsk regional state administration Igor Kolomoyskiy. The aim of the project is to stop physically the infiltration from the territory of the state which carries on the aggressive actions towards our country. We can put through the project in 6 months" - said the Deputy Head of Dnepropetrovsk regional state administration Svyatoslav Olejnik.

According to his words the 1920 length wall on the border with Russia will be metal with barbed wire. The wall will be under voltage.

The fence will be made on the territory of Donetsk, Kharkov and Lugansk regions.

According to the project the approaches will be blocked with the wide and deep ditches with barbed wire from both Russian and Ukrainian sides. It will prevent the gateway to the object for civilians, animals and the mechanical transport and armoured vehicles.

The space between two ditches will be mined with signal and antipersonnel mines.

The moto-manoeuvring forces of Ukrainian army, border patrol and National Guard will be placed along all "wall".

"Charity funds will pay for the building of the wall. All the necessary for the building is producing in Ukraine. It will be a good infrastructural project which grounds on Ukrainian industry" - pointed Olejnik.

He thinks that some plants in Dnepropetrovsk region can take part in realization of the project.

According to Olejnik's words the cost of the realization of the building project will be 50 mln. EUR. Total amount of the engineering works of building the 1920 length wall on the border of Russia and Ukraine will be less than 100 mln. EUR. 

He also leaves open the possibility of financial support from the state side.

CrossTalk: Kiev Goes For Broke

Post by South Front.