Armed forces of Ukraine conduct sabotage and reconnaissance activities, thus violating the agreements — Eduard Basurin

On Monday of July 13, a sabotage and reconnaissance group from the 137th battalion of the 35th marine brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine violated the existing agreements prohibiting sabotage and reconnaissance activities and attempted to infiltrate into the DPR territory through the vicinities of Zaytsevo (southern area), spokesman for the DPR People’s Militia Directorate Eduard Basurin gave a detailed account during the briefing in Donetsk.

“Our defenders did not open fire and were watching the saboteurs by using optical reconnaissance means. The enemy group triggered two mines while moving.

One AFU militant died, two others were wounded, having tripped antipersonnel mines. The other saboteurs fled and abandoned their fallen fellow soldier.

At the request of the Ukrainian party to the JCCC, we ensured security guarantees for the evacuation of the soldier’s body. However, the command of the joint forces operation did not take action to evacuate the victim. Instead, the number of attacks on this front was increased dramatically. They used an unmanned aerial vehicle of Phantom make for fire adjustment.

As a goodwill gesture, we evacuated the dead soldier of the 137th battalion, 35th brigade, and informed the Ukrainian side of that. They showed the willingness to take the body only when we informed the public that the saboteurs had been blown up and because of the public pressure,” Eduard Basurin told.

He also noted that, according to the evidence the DPR People’s Militia has obtained, the enemy intended to carry out a raiding sabotage attack on DPR People’s Militia positions near Zaytsevo.

An upgraded AKM-TK7 assault rifle with the number TE1232 was found at the place where the saboteur was blown up. This weapon has an improved forearm, buttstock and a silencer, it is used by reconnaissance units of the armed forces of Ukraine and the joint forces operation.

A stripper clip made by the Magpul Industries firearm American company was found together with subsonic ammo, which is used for silent firing. The equipment of the victim is characteristic of a scout, namely: a non-standard gun belt, raid boots, camouflage suit and a baseball cap.

“Most of those activities are carried out by brigade commanders and the leadership of the joint forces operation without notifying their superiors.

For this month alone, the 35th brigade’s units in the joint forces operation’s zone sustained the following noncombat losses: three dead and sixteen wounded, nine of whom tripped their own mines.

We do not rule out that the sabotage group went to this raid in anticipation of the Trilateral Contact Group’s meeting to derail the peace process and undermine Zelensky’s credibility on the international stage,” Eduard Basurin concluded.