The Battle for Novorussiya

[Lauren Johnson]

UKRAINIAN TROOPERS SURRENDER EN MASSE, MANY OF THEM HELP TO MOP UP THE DEBALTSEVO POCKET
Interesting developments re reported from the Debaltsevo pocket (we've got every right to call it so now. Weak-willed army, formed out or forcibly mobilized by criminals in Kiev men, starts to surrender. They even give up by way of fighting with the punitive units of the "patriots".
In Krasnyi Pakhar Ukrainian conscripts took to perimeter defense and began response fire on the fanatics in Ukrainian army. Militiamen arrived from locality Troitskoye in time and they jointly mopped up the Ukies. Ukrainian rebellious soldiers are now taking part in the mopping-up operations in locality Mironovskiy.
There was also an incident in settlement Lozovoye. Ukrainian command sent a unit of kamikaze to meet the army of Novorossiya. They had to be driven by machine-gun fire of the castigator units. Nevertheless, it was the castigators who got shot in the backs, and not the conscripts. The origin of the fire is being specified. It could have been a covert group of the DPR, or the next rebellion in the ranks of Ukrainian army.

Not sure of original source but came via well informed source.

I checked twitter and facebook. No confirmation as of yet. As much as this would be a rational act all things considered, I suspect this is psychological warfare.

Here is an early SitRep:

Fighting has been continued everywhere along the frontal line. The situation at the areas of Debaltsevo and Mariupol is especially strained.

LUGANSK area. NAF mopped up Troitskoe and Mius. Army of Novorossiya advanced to the suburbs of Popasnaya and started close fight with UAF. Krasny Yar, Stakhanov and Pervomaisk have been under fire by Ukrainian forces.

Heavy fighting has continued near Debaltsevo and Chernukhino, as well as near Lisichansk. Approaching Debaltsevo, NAF have broken through the 2nd defence line (from four).

DONETSK area. Vostochny district of Mariupol was heavily fired with "Grad" MLRSaccording to the accounts of locals, fire came from the area near JSC Ilyich Steel Iron Works and Stary Krim. Ten civilians were killed, more than fifty got injured. Later in the evening there was information about twenty people died.

Whereas, the liberation of Mariupol has startedNovorossiya forces are advancing. Fighting for Krymskoe, NAF approaching Orekhovo-Donetskoe. The Militia took parts of Krasnogorovka and Mariinka. Ukrainian forces are holding their positions approximately in 1,5-2,5 km from the airport terminals. After NAF had pushed the enemy out off Peski, the intensity of fire at Donetsk and suburbs lowered a little bit. However, today UAF has resumed shelling of the Donetsk, and also Krasnogvardeisky and Vostochny districts of Makeevkaat least 6 civilians killed.

NAF defeated a Ukrainian roadblock near Krasny Partizan and took a section of road Donetsk-Gorlovka. NAF pretty close approached Uglegorsk, now Novorossiya troops are mopping up to Mayorsk (near Nikitovka). There is an information about liberation of the village of Dolomitnoe (near Artyomivsk).

Heavy fighting took place near airport, Peski, Gorlovka, and Nikishino. In Nikishino NAF tried to advance against the enemy, but Ukrainian forces strongly repelled the attempt of breakthrough, in the result of what about 7 militiamen were killed and more than 10 injured. According to the Militia's report, UAF is getting reinforcement near Svetlodar, Peski, and Krymskoe.

Ukrainian forces destroyed a bread-baking plant in Gorlovka, and a hospital in Stakhanov.

Right now
UAF is getting reinforcement in Avdeevka. The Militia reported, that Ukrainian troops had set their postions in residential area just between the dwelling houses, thus NAF was going to attack with infantry not using artillery to avoid casualties among the locals. According to the latest reports, the Militia is successfully closing Debaltsevo cauldron now. Novorossiya forces are on offensive to Mariupol.