As part of the solemn events commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Chernukhino-Debaltsevo joint offensive operation of the DPR and LPR armed forces, a delegation from Donetsk laid flowers at the memorial to the dead soldiers and civilians of the LPR in Chernukhino, a correspondent of the DPR Official Website reported on February 18.

The Donetsk delegation included Chief People’s Militia Directorate General Major Denis Sinenkov, Commander of the Sparta Independent Guards Intelligence Battalion named after Arsen Pavlov, Guards Colonel Vladimir Zhoga, as well as Hero of the Donetsk People’s Republic Colonel Akhra Avidzba.

“Here, in the Lugansk land, this military operation is called Chernukhino-Debaltsevo. We are more used to calling it Uglegorsk-Debaltsevo. My unit was directly involved in the battles in both Uglegorsk and Debaltsevo. This operation is remarkable in many ways. Both Republics for the first time had here common planning, common command and concerted actions, which allowed to block the enemy and close in on. The way we distinguished ourselves here still backfires to our enemy,” Akhra Avidzba said.