Russians deploy heavy military hardware in Donbas in breach of Minsk agreements - JFO command

Across the occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk regions, 235 units of military equipment manned by Russia’s armed formations were have been deployed in violation of the Minsk agreements.

That’s according to the Joint Forces Operation HQ press service, Ukrinform reports.

"OSCE SMM observers have recorded 235 units of military hardware manned by the Russian armed formations in the temporarily occupied territory, deployed in violation of the Minsk agreements," the statement said.

Thus, OSCE monitors found in various areas of the temporarily occupied territories a number of military hardware units deployed in violation of the withdrawal lines and located outside the designated arms storage areas.

This is about BM-21 Grad MLR systems, SAU 2S1 self-propelled artillery, howitzers, mortars, guns, as well as T-64 and T-72 main battle tanks. In addition, four armored personnel carriers were spotted in the city of Luhansk, moving in convoy.

"The recorded violations on the part of Russia’s armed formations indicate that they are undergoing active combat training to set up the conditions for further escalation of tensions on the line of contact. Also, this is about the attempts to conceal their criminal activity from international observers," the press service of the Joint Forces Operation HQ emphasizes.

Currently, Joint Forces retain control of the situation in the JFO zone, the report says, adding that they adhere to the Minsk Agreements, opening fire only when the actions by the Russian occupation forces pose a threat to the lives and health of Ukrainian troops and civilians.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, maintaining a 94,000-force near Ukraine's borders and in the temporarily occupied territories costs Russia about $10 million per day.

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