East Ukraine militia report Kiev’s heavy weapons within 30-kilometer buffer zone

World

March 26, 20:39 UTC+3
According to the DPR, 47 Uragan and Grad multiple rocket launchers, a large number of MSTA-B artillery pieces and Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems have not been withdrawn from the zone

Military drills of the Ukrainian army (archive)

© AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov

MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. All heavy weapons of the Ukrainian army units taking part in the military operation in south-eastern Ukraine are currently in the settlements located within the 30-kilometer buffer zone, which is a direct violation of the Minsk agreements, defense milistry spokesman of the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk Eduard Basurin told a local press briefing on Thursday.

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He showed the attending reporters a map depicting the areas where artillery systems and multiple rocket launchers of Kiev-controlled units are secretly deployed. According to the information provided by Basurin, 47 Uragan and Grad multiple rocket launchers, a large number of MSTA-B artillery pieces and Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems and other types of heavy weapons have not been withdrawn from the 30-kilometer zone to date.
"Despite the statements by the Ukrainian side on the completion of the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the line of contact, new cases of deployment of heavy weapons on the engagement line are registered," he said. "The DPR Defence Ministry continues to receive disturbing intelligence reports about Kiev boosting its military presence in the security zone."
Basurin urged the Ukrainian side "to give up provocations and strictly comply with its commitments." He also drew the attention of the OSCE monitoring mission to the need to oversee the implementation of the Minsk agreements by all parties to the conflict.

http://tass.ru/en/world/785238