Wednesday results in the occupied territories of Donbass. The highlights
In the area of the Joint Forces Operation on May 20, the armed formations of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire 14 times, using 120 mm and 82 mm mortars forbidden to be placed on the contact line, as well as grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms, - the JFO headquarters reported. One member of the Joint Forces was injured as a result of the enemy shelling. Aggressive and criminal behavior of the Russian mercenaries provoked an immediate reaction from the Joint Forces - our units resolutely suppressed the enemy activity with fire from standard weapons. There were no cases of coronavirus infection among the Joint Forces personnel; situation in the area of the operation remains controlled.
Leader of the "LNR" Leonid Pasechnik stated that he had ordered the terrorist troops to be put on alert and promised to "move the line of contact". He said this in an urgent statement. The head of the occupation administration once again accused Ukraine of shelling "civilians and civilian infrastructure". He stated that he had warned President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky that "if such actions continue on the part of the armed formations of Ukraine", illegal armed formations will take "decisive steps to move the line of contact" from critical vital infrastructure.
The statement of leader of the "LNR" Leonid Pasechnik about his readiness to go on the offensive in the Donbass and "move the line of contact" was agreed with the Russian leadership. Russian propagandist Semyon Pegov expressed confidence in this in the Telegram channel of his WarGongo project. "Pasechnik would hardly start to scare Kyiv with the offensive without coordinating his position with Moscow. I think this is obvious for those who are at least a little bit familiar with the matter", - he said. "What can this mean and what is the real message for the Ukrainian leadership, contained in the statement of the "LNR" head? In my opinion, this unambiguous "telegram" from the Kremlin informs Zelensky that if he does not need "Minsk-2", then the other front line (in the broadest sense of the word) will easily go for a tougher scenario", - Pegov clarified.
Following his Luhansk "colleague", leader of the "DNR" Denis Pushilin announced putting of illegal armed formations on alert. He reported this in a statement. As in the statement of Leonid Pasechnik, Pushilin accused the AFU of shelling civilian population and life support infrastructure. "I, as the "head of the Donetsk People's Republic", made a decision to increase the combat readiness of the People's Militia units of (self-designation of the "DNR" illegal armed formations - OstroV) in case of further aggressive behavior of Kyiv. All the necessary instructions have already been given", - Pushilin stated.
Occupation authorities of the "DNR" began to bring their illegal armed formations to high alert. This was stated in the so-called "people's police of the DNR". "As part of the implementation of the alert, the units of the "people's militia" established day-and-night duty, guard and defense of garrisons, important facilities, headquarters and command posts, additional posts are posted, patrols are organized", - the "police" stated. It was also reported that "the formations, units and subunits located at the training grounds and in the training areas have been returned to their garrisons". "The personnel were recalled from vacations and works trips. Armaments and military equipment have been put into combat condition. The troops' stockpiles of supplies have been loaded into military vehicles", - the "police" added.
Occupation authorities of the "LNR" began the mobilization of reservists and brought heavy artillery into position. This was announced by Russian propagandist Semyon Pegov on the page of his WarGonzo project in the Telegram Channel. "The LNR mobilize reservists! @wargonzo sources in the "republic's" power structures report this", - he wrote. "Also, according to our data, the 4th brigade's artillery has taken up positions in the Stakhanov area and is ready to work to suppress the AFU firing crews…", - he added. In addition, Pegov informed that the 7th and 4th brigades, along with the 6th Cossack regiment and all motorized rifle units, also moved to their areas of responsibility in full combat load as part of the battalion task group". "The artillerists were instructed not to spare the shells in case the enemy escalates the situation", - the Russian propagandist informed.
The so-called "LNR MIA" strengthened measures aimed at "ensuring the rule of law and security of residents of the republic" in order to avoid "provocations". This was stated on the "MIA" website. It was reported that since May 20 of this year, a heavy security by the "police" has been introduced and additional "posts" of vehicle inspection have been set up at the entrances and exits of settlements in the occupied territory of Luhansk oblast. Street patrols and protection of vital infrastructure have been strengthened in occupied cities and districts.
More than 600 cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts (CADLO) as of May 20. This was said in the reports of their fake "ministries of health". Occupation authorities of the "DNR" recognized 270 cases of COVID-19: 14 new cases were recorded over the day, including 3 medical workers. 2 deaths were also recorded: a man aged 67 years old and a woman aged 59 years old. In total, 209 patients are under treatment in CADO, 52 people have been discharged, there were 9 deaths. The number of patients with COVID-19 in the so-called "LNR" has reached 338 as of the evening of May 19. It was reported that 10 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded yesterday. Two deaths have also been reported.