Tentative Military Disengagement in Ukraine Proceeds

nsnbc : The military disengagement in Ukraine, following the Minsk Accords and additional protocols proceeds despite minor reported ceasefire violations. 

LPR forces packing up. Photo courtesy of Tass, Taras Dudnik.

LPR forces packing up. Photo courtesy of Tass, Taras Dudnik.

On Friday the press center of the Ukrainian military issued a statement, reporting that military forces had withdrawn 12 mortars of a caliber under 100 mm from the line of engagement in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.

The statement implies forces under control of the central government in Kiev and does not necessarily imply that militia, not under the central command in Kiev will adhere to the protocol. The military press center stated that:

“Efforts are continuing to pull out armaments as stipulated by the Minsk accords. Yesterday, 12 mortars with a caliber of less than 100 mm were moved from the front-line to a distance of over 15 km in the rear. The pullout will continue today”.

The military press center also stated that the ceasefire is being observed and that Ukrainian troops are engaged in mine-clearing operations in areas under control of the Ukrainian military. The spokesman for Ukraine’s General Staff, Vladislav Seleznyov told the Russian Tass news agency that forces under control of Kiev had started on October 5 to pull out tanks as the first stage of the disengagement and planned to complete that withdrawal within two days.

On Saturday the self-proclaimed Lughansk People’s Republic (LPR) began to withdraw tanks from the line of engagement while the Defense Ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR)  noted that is would observe whether or not the ceasefire holds. provided that the ceasefire holds, the DPR will begin its withdrawal according to the Minsk Accords and additional protocols on October 18.

The DPR’s Defense Ministry stated on Thursday that Ukrainian forces had committed two ceasefire violations within the past 24 hours by shelling DPR positions. According to the Ministry, Donetsk airport has been shelled from a 82-mm caliber mortar, and grenade launcher fire was opened on the settlement of the mine 6/7 from Mayorsk on the outskirts of Gorlovka. No renewed shelling has been reported over the past hours.

Analysts and experts warn that the wild-card with regard to the tentative ceasefire is the question whether or not Kiev can control militia like the Azov Battalion, Pravy Sector a.k.a. UNA-UNSO, mercenaries from Georgia, the United States, and other irregular forces.

CH/L – nsnbc 16.10.2015

Source Article from http://nsnbc.me/2015/10/16/tentative-military-disengagement-in-ukraine-proceeds/

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