Briefing on the Situation in the South-East of Ukraine (07 – 13.10.2016)

1. \ GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF MILITARY COOPERATION AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE Briefing on the Situation in the South-East of Ukraine (07 – 13.10.2016)

2. ATO AREA SITUATION There were no changes in combat strength, total manpower as well as positions of the 1st and 2nd Army Corps of the RAF South Military District Center of territorial troops, except as redeployment of 7th separate motor rifle brigade (2nd Army Corp) HQ and several units from DEBALTSEVO to BRIANKA. There were no signs of the creation of attack formations. The implementation of the framework agreement concerning forces disengagement is underway: ZOLOTE, PETRIVSKE – enemy forces are disengaged. Demining activity in the separate areas is taking place. UAVs and OSCE SMM patrols participate in the monitoring process; STANYTSIA LUHANSKA – the enemy is trying to delay forces disengagement, prevent OSCE observers’ activity, and conduct provocative fire at ATO forces positions.Forward enemy units remain on positions in close vicinity to Siversk Donetsk river bridge. The most intensive fire was fixed at Novoaidar, Sloviansk, Donetsk and Mariupol directions. The sniper team activity was also fixed near VERKHNIOTORETSK and OKTIABR. Moreover, the enemy tried to provoke return-fire and lately demonstrate by the Russian mass media. With this regard, “Life news” camera team was present near STAKHANOV.

3. Highlights over Situation in Ukraine There were no signs of any changes in enemy policy and actions with regard to Ukraine. Putin’s regime continues to ignore the Minsk agreement implementation and is trying to shift responsibility for that failure to the law enforcement bodies and leadership of our Nation, by using international events and mass media. Russian occupants keep the situation tense in the conflict zone and protract the implementation of force disengagement framework agreement, and at the same time declare about their readiness to have other locations included to the scope of that agreement. Trying to increase international pressure on Ukraine, Moscow hopes to make the leadership of our Nation negotiate with the so-called “republics leaders” and to make us implement other Russian “conflict management conditions”. The results of the so-called “primaries”, conducted on the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are presented to the world community in a way “… that local population recognize pro-Russian authority”.

4. Highlights over Situation in Ukraine Generally, Russian authority activity means, that the Putin’s regime priority is to satisfy foreign policy ambitions, despite the serious problems in the Russian economy. Russian parliament approved the amendments to federal budget for 2016, which increase the investment for military needs (6th October, increase the investment to national defense in 678,8 bn. rubles, Finance Minister is authorized to redistribute up to 10% of the money to the defense sector needs). The recent staff turn-over in the state authority and law enforcement bodies aims to increase the effectiveness of the foreign policy implementation and at the same time to provide Putin “a chair” within the authority. Newly appointed as a first deputy of Russian presidential administration office, ex-head of the parliament, Managing Director of state enterprise “Rosatom” Kyrienko, have to create Kremlin-controlled liberal political force, which will be an official opposition during the next presidential elections.

5. Highlights in the occupied territories of Ukraine Because of the limited resources Putin’s regime continues to decrease social-economic support of the illegal armed formation on the East of Ukraine. With this regard the leaders of so-called “DNR” and “LNR” are trying to decrease “budget” money spending and restart some “budget-making” enterprises. The occupants increase the control over the local population to prevent mass events as well as spreading of pro-Ukrainian set of mind. The occupational authority of Crimea is also tasked to decrease budget deficit (Russian Ministry of Finance – bill on budget amendments for 2016: decrease by 23,1 bn. of rubles of the investment into social-economic development of Crimea). The declared plans to cover spending at the expense of customs receipts are impossible, taking into account the international isolation regime of the peninsula. As Kremlin has a priority to modernize military infrastructure and military-industrial complex of the peninsula, so-called “Crimean government” had to further decrease social spending.

6. Highlights in the occupied territories of Ukraine Unit build-up at a Corps level is taking place on the territory of occupied Crimea. Currently, Cops command post is being constructed near DJANKOI airfield. According to the latest information, major-general Kolotovkin Adriy Volodymirovych is assigned as that newly-created Corps commander (previously was chief of staff – 1st deputy 58th Army commander, South Military District. Participated in Chechen war in 1995 and in Georgian war in 2008). Military recruitment offices of Crimea check the mobilization resources. All officers and NCO, who are retired (previously Ukraine citizens) and aged 25-45 of all military trades (specialties) receive the letters with a demand to come to the military recruitment office (to the closest one to their place of residence) and register for service by the end of October. The previously mentioned person liable for military service are planned to have training in November-December of 2016. Particular attention is paid to those people, who previously served in the UAF, have combat operations experience or participated in PKO abroad, as well as insufficient trades (specialties) (artillery, armor, RPG, airborne, maintenance and repair, reconnaissance specialists).

7. CONCLUSIONS RESULTING FROM THE SITUATION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN CONFLICT Military-political situation around Ukraine remains difficult and complex, first of all because of Russian aggressive actions aimed to obstruct Euro-Atlantic integration of our Nation, including by intimidation of use of military force. The implementation of framework agreement is being delayed. The enemy continues shelling ATO units and tries to provoke return fire and further blame the Ukrainian side for the Minsk agreement violation. The main efforts were put on conducting reconnaissance of ATO forces, improving the defensive capabilities by better engineer support of the positions, maintaining the readiness and increasing the combat-capabilities of troops, as well as preparation for winter time.

8. \ GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF MILITARY COOPERATION AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS OF THE GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE Thank You for Your attention