Commander of “Russian Ostrog” volunteer battalion: “We may enter Avdeyevka soon”

Offensive actions have started on the frontline in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), with the opposition taking the so-called “grey zone” that Ukraine’s Armed Forces seized earlier disregarding the Minsk Agreements. In such situation, Ukraine may lose control over Avdeyevka and a number of other populated areas, Alexander Matyushin (codename Varyag), the commander of “Russian Ostrog” a volunteer battalion, told EADaily on March 14.

“The situation is tense on the frontlines. There is intensive shelling near Zaytsevo, Gorlovka agglomeration.  Fierce shelling continues in Spartak, near Yasinovataya checkpoint,” Matyushin said. In his words, the DPR units have achieved certain success and have taken the “grey zone” in the direction of Avdeyevka from Yasinovataya checkpoint. “Ukraine is pulling more forces to Avdeyevka for the fear of losing it. Our fighters and subversive reconnaissance units are being pulled closer to Avdeyevka and may enter it soon. There is fierce battle there now,” Varyag said.

He said two dozens were killed and more than forty were wounded in the military actions at the Yasinovataya checkpoint within the week.

Matyushin said severe clashes continue in the area of the Donetsk airport. “Offensive for Avdeyevka was launched from there too. They use gun, mortars, and tanks. In the area of Peski, near the local Volvo Center and plant, the sides use large-caliber guns and mortars. There is intensive artillery fire in the direction of Maryinka too. The southern region Sakhanka and Kominternovo is under permanent shelling from Mariupol,” he said.

For conclusion, Alexander Matyushin said the ongoing offensive may result in takeover of Avdeyevka by the DPR army and forcing the adversary out of the Grolovka-Yasinovataya-Donetsk airport triangle, as he told EADaily earlier.

Ukraine confirms that Avdeyevka occurred to be the hardest area for Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Andriy Lysenko, the Poroshenko Administration’s spokesperson for the “anti-terrorist” operation in Donbass, said at a briefing on March 14. He said the positions of Ukraine’s Armed Forces are being shelled from several directions at once: Yasinovatay, Yakovlevka, and Spartak.