Tuesday results in the occupied territories of Donbass. The highlights
In the area of the Joint Forces Operation on March 17, the armed formations of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire 10 times, - the JFO headquarters reported. The enemy fired at our positions from 120 mm and 82 mm mortars prohibited by the Minsk agreements, an anti-tank missile system, grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms. Two members of the Joint Forces were injured as a result of the enemy shelling. Our defensive units used available weapons and gave the armed formations of the Russian Federation an adequate response.
Occupation authorities of the "DNR" urge residents to return from the territory controlled by Ukraine, - separatist media reported. Allegedly, staying in the occupied territory will help them to avoid the coronavirus disease. "We recommend the residents of the Donetsk People's Republic" to refrain from further stay in Ukraine", - the report said. The "DNR" also admit that "a complete cessation of the movement of citizens through the demarcation line is possible".
Occupation authorities in CADO want to quarantine schools and universities for two weeks due to the risk of the coronavirus spread. This decision was made at a meeting in the so-called "Ministry of Education of the DNR", - the Donetsk telegram channel "Dontel" reported. It was noted that quarantine would be introduced in schools and universities for two weeks - from March 18 to April 1, and a "decree" about this decision would be published in the near future. "Kindergartens and pre-school educational institutions are not allowed to close. However, this does not mean that you need to take a child there. There is an alternative: parents who are worried about the health of their children can write a "statement for a temporary school drop-outs", based on which they can stay home. Or even without a statement - not to bring a child to kindergarten under quarantine will not be a "crime", - the telegram channel reported. Students were notified of the transition to distance learning, students of individual faculties were released. Dormitory students "were given instructions to pack their things and go home because of the quarantine".
Occupation authorities of the "DNR" intend to install new telecommunications equipment to counter broadcasting of Ukrainian media. Separatist media wrote this with reference to the so-called "acting Minister of Communications" Igor Halepa. According to him, in 2019, in order to improve the quality and signal strength of television and radio broadcasting in the territory of CADO, as well as "in order to counter broadcasting of the Ukrainian media, the necessary telecommunications equipment was purchased, the installation of which is planned to be carried out in the first half of 2020". The occupation authorities believe that now they need to counteract the signal of Ukrainian broadcasting in the south and north of the territory controlled by the militants.
The Luhanskvoda enterprise controlled by the "LNR" militants cut off water supply to parts of occupied Brianka due to repairs, - separatist media reported. Water supply to some areas of the city was interrupted due to repair work on a water pipe with a diameter of 500 mm "Pumping Station of the Third Stakhanov Rise - Kryvyi Rih Pumping Station".
Counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine exposed an attempt to recruit a Ukrainian by the so-called "LNR Ministry of State Security". The militants controlled by Russian special services illegally detained the entrepreneur from temporarily occupied Luhansk on the spurious pretext. Having accused the man of allegedly storing weapons for sabotage, the attackers demanded that he periodically visit the territory of the Luhansk region, controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. There he was supposed to collect information about the deployment and movements of Ukrainian military units and transmit the information to representatives of the so-called "LNR Ministry of State Security". To persuade the Luhansk resident to commit illegal activities, tortures was used against him. The man managed to free himself only after signing the consent to confidential cooperation with the so-called "LNR Ministry of State Security". Having arrived in the territory of the Luhansk oblast, controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, the citizen immediately turned to the SBU and told about all the circumstances of his detention by representatives of the terrorist organization.