All news

Around 40 units of equipment moved to contact line in Donbas — DPR defense ministry

According to DPR defense ministry, two Grad multiple rocket launchers, four self-propelled artillery systems, four Giatsint-B guns and four Msta-B howitzers were moved to the contact line

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/. Ukrainian forces have moved 39 artillery systems and tanks to the contact line in Donbas, the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) defense ministry spokesman Eduard Basurin said on Thursday.

"Seven tanks were spotted near the Peski settlement (to the north of Donetsk) in three kilometers from the contact line; eight tanks, two Grad multiple rocket launchers and 10 self-propelled artillery systems - in Stepnoye (Maryinsky region)," Donetsk News Agency quoted Basurin as saying.

According to Basurin, two Grad multiple rocket launchers, four self-propelled artillery systems, four Giatsint-B guns of 152mm caliber and four Msta-B howitzers of 152mm caliber have arrived to the Novoselovka Pervaya settlement which is controlled by Ukrainian forces.

Weaponry withdrawal in Donbas

The withdrawal was completed in three stages - firstly, from the Deblatsevo direction, then from the southern direction and lastly from the contact line near Donetsk.

The supplement to the Package of measures on implementing the Minsk Agreements from 12 February 2015 was agreed upon on September 29 at the negotiations of the Contact Group in Minsk. The supplement envisages withdrawal of tanks, artillery weapons of less than 100mm caliber, and mortars of equal to or less than 120mm caliber to a distance of 15 kilometers from the contact line in Donbas. On September 30, the document was signed by DPR head Alexander Zakharchenko and LPR head Igor Plotnitsky.

In accordance with the reached agreement, tanks were withdrawn first, followed by artillery weapons of less than 100mm caliber and mortars. The first stage started two days after the complete ceasefire and finished in 15 days. The second stage took 24 days to complete. The withdrawal started in the "North" sector on the LPR territory and continued in the "South" sector in DPR. The whole process of withdrawal took a total of 41 days.