Summary of hostilities in Novorossia on March, 16

On March 16 major confrontation on Novorossia unfolded in the political plane around the bill amending the law on the special status of Donbass, initiated by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. Representatives of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics are asserting in one voice that the document, at least, does not meet the requirements of Minsk Agreement, and generally it is viable at all. Under that logic the introduction of this bill by the Ukrainian side is performed "for show" and Ukraine will not conduct no real action for constitutional reform, which would satisfy the republics.


Hostilities in DPR

Last night of March 15 to 16 the DPR Ministry of Defense recorded 15 violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian military. The following settlements were fired: Spartak, Shirokino, Gorlovka (6/7 mine area), the area of Peski and Donetsk airport. The shelling was conducted with antiaircraft guns, mortars, light and automatic grenade launchers. The ministry added, there were no militia casualties over the past day. There is also no information on casualties among the civilian population.

By 10:50 situation remained uneasy near Donetsk airport, there was fight. Also in the morning a battle was going on using mortars in the village of Peski.

Village Spartak was fired from the positions of the Ukrainian army during the day, there was also bombardment of Kievsky and Kuibyshevsky districts of Donetsk. Around 14:30 of March 16 there was an attack on the village Spartak, supported by two armored vehicles and an infantry fighting vehicle. The attack was repulsed by the militia. Cannonade did not abate in Donetsk all day long. There was shooting battle in Peski using mortars and tank shells. In the evening on March 16 artillery shelling of Kirovsky district of Donetsk began from Ugledar.

On March 16 there was a traffic accident in Konstantinovka at 15:42 involving military ACV. AFU soldiers in ACV ran down a woman and children who were on the sidewalk. Airborne combat vehicle hit three pedestrians: a girl, 8 years old, died on the spot, a woman and a baby who was in a stroller, were taken to hospital. First, military flatbed truck with people raced at high speed through the avenue, followed by ACV crawler. Then, suddenly, the car swerved into the oncoming lane to the left at the intersection, then to the right and hit signs, traffic light pole and a woman with children standing on the sidewalk.


The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that soldiers’ commanders will be punished for the accident involving a ACV in Konstantinovka. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine task force group was immediately sent to the scene to determine the causes and circumstances of the accident. The military prosecutor's office was informed on the accident. The perpetrators will be brought to account after the results of the investigation. In addition, their commanders will be punished for the lack of proper control.

By the evening of March 16, two soldiers guilty in the accident were arrested and handed over to the military prosecutor.

Accident with the death of a child by the Ukrainian soldiers caused spontaneous protest in the city. In the evening of March 16, the situation in AFU-controlled Konstantinovka was tense to the limit. After the Ukrainian military in armored vehicle ran down a woman with children in the afternoon of March 16, people took to the streets and wanted to punish the murderers. At 20:33 the crowd went to the seventh school in Konstantinovka, where there is a military unit. Residents of the city smashed the windows of the College dorm, where there are Ukrainian army barracks. Later, gunfire was heard at the 7th school, where a large crowd of angry citizens arrived. AFU stood with machine guns at the unit, they fired into the air. Protesters burned 1 AFU car and 1 bus. Eyewitnesses reported in social networks that they set fire to tires at the entrance of the dorm (where AFU soldiers live). Also in the evening people tried to storm Konstantinovka CCO, where there is the headquarters of the AFU.

Additional troops were sent to Konstantinovka from Chasov Yar, Artyomovsk, Kramatorsk, including helicopters, to quell the protest. Late in the evening, according to the civilians, "Right sector" troops arrived by vehicles with heavy machine guns to help soldiers. By 23:35 protests in Konstantinovka did not subside. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies in the city were allowed to shoot to kill in case of provocations.


Totally 32 firings were recorded in the DPR last day, the fire by Ukrainian security forces killed three and injured of three more DPR soldiers. Nevertheless, DPR militia fighters continue to implement Minsk agreement strictly and do not open returning fire despite provocations.

Hostilities in LPR

The headquarters of the so-called ATO reported that the AFU positions near Smeloye and Slavyanoserbsk were allegedly twice fired in "A" sector during the night of March 15 to 16. The shelling was allegedly conducted with small arms, there are no casualties. The People's Militia, in turn, reported that no ceasefire violations were recorded.

Others

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko introduced a bill to the Verkhovna Rada to amend article 10 of the law "On special order of the local government in some regions of Donetsk and Lugansk regions," as said in the draft resolution registered in the Verkhovna Rada on Monday. The special procedure of the local authorities in some areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions provided for by this law is realized only by local governments elected at the special election held in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, this and other laws of Ukraine.

President Petro Poroshenko says that Ukraine signed contracts for the supply of lethal weapons with 11 countries of the European Union. However, he did not specify what countries exactly signed these agreements.

Summary prepared by the staff of the Information Analytical Center "Cassad"