10 Russia-Backed Separatist Fighters Reported Killed in Mine Blast, 2 in Battle

Ukrainian soldier at a post of the Joint Forces Operation in Tryokhizbenki in Lugansk Region. Photo by OOS

Ukraine Day 1686: UPDATES BELOW. Ten Russia-backed separatists were reportedly killed when their BTR ran over a mine.

Previous coverage of the Ukraine conflict can be found here.

An Invasion By Any Other Name: The Kremlinâ€™s Dirty War in Ukraine

10 Russia-Backed Separatist Fighters Reported Killed in Mine Blast

2018-10-02 07:57:39

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

In its evening dispatch, the Joint Forces Operation (OOS) reported on its Facebook page that Russia-backed forces attacked Ukrainian troops 5 times in Krymskoye, Peski, Novomikhaylovka, and Vodyanoye, using grenade-launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms, according to Liga.net.

No casualties were reported.

OSCE Special Monitoring Mission said that at least 23 children have been wounded by mines this year and noted the killing of 3 children and injury of 1 on September 30 outside of Gorlovka.

fetching tweet…

According to Liga.net, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported that 10 Russia-backed separatists were killed then the BTR they were driving struck a mine. The location was not given. The Defense Ministry said Russia-backed engineering and de-mining units were brought to the area.

Neither Russian nor separatist media reported the BTR deaths, but the separatist news site Dan-News.Info said two fighters from the self-described Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) were killed near Kominternovo (Pikuzy) while battle Ukrainian forces. Eduard Basurin, deputy commander of DNR forces said in the last week week, two other fights were wounded and two were killed in Kominternovo.

In an interview with Fareed Zakaria on CNN’s GPS, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Russia’s war o Ukraine has helped gain support among the Ukrainin population for joining NATO.

The Ukrainian president’s web site covered the interview:

“In fact, we have two dangers. The first danger is Putin. I, as President, do not fight with anyone, I specifically oppose Putin. Because Putin understands that the war on land – in the east of my country, or in Crimea, over the last four years, no longer brings him any success. Because we have created a strong and reliable army with the help of the United States of America. I am really proud of the very effective cooperation with American, British, Canadian, European advisers,” the President said.

“He (Putin – ed.) understands that he will not be able to succeed in a military operation on land. But he expects that success can be achieved during the elections. And therefore, he undermines stability inside the country with the help of cyberattacks, using fake news technology, technology of misinformation. Russia spends billions on supporting Sputnik TV, RussiaToday and many others,” Petro Poroshenko said. The Head of State drew numerous examples of misinformation spread by Russia. Beginning with statements that it is not Russian aggression, but a “civil war” in Ukraine and it is not Russia that is responsible for the aggression, finishing with accusing Ukrainian authorities of thousands of victims of this war and denying the presence of Russian troops in the occupied territory.

— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick

Note: The Interpreter lost its funding in 2017 and has been run on a volunteer basis since then. To support our efforts, donate via Paypal.

Related Articles