Briefly about the most important today's events in our digest of events
that have happened in Ukraine today
ATO Headquarters: A column of tanks detected near Gorlivka
Russian and terrorist forces continue to draw up heavy military equipment to the ATO area, a spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, Andriy Lysenko, reported at a briefing on Friday.
"We have recently detected that rebel armoured personnel carriers and tanks are being drawn up to the front line. In particular, a column of tanks stretching for 3 kilometres was spotted in the town of Gorlivka heading towards Ukrainian troops," Lysenko reported.
Tymchuk about the Donetsk airport: Rebels have fallen back and are manning their units
Rebels have fallen back to the area called Spartak after having tried to storm the Donetsk airport and are currently restoring their fighting efficiency, and receiving reinforcement, the head of the Information Resistance Group, Dmytro Tymchuk, posted on his Facebook wall on Friday morning, January 16.
"Russian and terrorist troops continue to carry out their activities increasing tensions in the conflict zone in Donbas. The Donetsk airport was among the hottest spots of tense confrontation in the past 24 hours," he said.
82 attacks in the past 24 hours, with the fiercest fights in the Debaltseve direction
Rebels shelled ATO forces 82 times within the past 24 hours; the last night was not quiet either, as rebels fired 38 times since 6 o'clock p.m. Thursday using heavy armaments, the ATO press centre reported on the morning of January 16.
"The night in Donbas was uneasy. Illegal armed formations continued to shell ATO forces. Rebels have carried out 38 attacks since 6 o'clock p.m. yesterday," the statement reads.
They shelled the Donetsk airport and territories adjacent to it all night.
"Illegal armed formations attacked the settlements of Schastya, Krymske, Verkhnya Vilkhova, Tryokhizbenka, and the outskirts of Frunze with Grad volley fire systems. They were firing till 4 a.m.," the ATO press centre reports.
The fiercest fights were reported in the Debaltseve direction.
"Terrorists tried to assault our roadblocks situated near the settlements of Shumy, Leninske and the outskirts of Novogorodske from the side of Gorlovka. Ukrainian military repelled the rebel attacks," says ATO press centre.
"Also, illegal paramilitaries shelled positions of our forces at 1 a.m. near the settlement of Odradivka," they added.
Additionally, 7 cases of aerial reconnaissance with unmanned aerial vehicles were registered near the settlements of Yelenivka, Novokalynove, Hornyak, Debaltseve, Donetsk and Mariupol.
"The situation is under the control of the army even though it remains very difficult. The enemy is repulsed when attempting attacks, and suffers losses in personnel and materiel", ATO press centre said.
Ambassador of the United States: Attacks on the Donetsk airport are violations of the Minsk agreements
US Ambassador Jeffrey Payette claims that rebel attacks on the Donetsk airport are violations of the Minsk treaty provisions according to what he wrote in Twitter on Thursday evening.
"Today's attacks on the Donetsk airport by rebels supported by Russia are the latest examples of how they breach the Minsk treaty," he said.
As reported earlier, rebel attacks on the Donetsk airport have been resumed. They were especially fierce on Thursday, for insurgents used artillery and tanks.
Donetsk airport is under constant rebel fire. The situation is controllable
As of 12:15, Ukrainian troops are battling against rebels in the Donetsk airport, Head of the ATO press-centre Roman Turovets told "Ukrayinska Pravda".
"Fighting is going on there now. The attack began at eight o'clock in the morning. The situation is complicated, but controllable,” Turovets said.
"Insurgents are using machine-guns and artillery," he said.
ATO Headquarters: 6 killed, and 18 wounded within the past 24 hours
6 military were killed, and 18 others wounded in the area of the anti-terrorist operation in the past 24 hours, a spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, Andriy Lysenko, reported at a briefing on Friday.
According to him, the situation in the ATO area is characterized by great intensity of rebel shelling.
The most troublesome spot is the Donetsk airport.
Dzobak Volodymyr
РОЗДУМИ ПРО НАДВАЖЛИВЕ або ЧОМУ НАШІ ОЛІГАРХИ СТАЛИ МОГИЛЬЩИКАМИ НИНІШНЬОЇ УКРАЇНИ
