Ukrainian Intelligence: Occupation Troops in Donbas Step Up Combat Training

The command of the occupation troops of the Russian Federation is stepping up combat training activities in units and divisions of the 1st (Donetsk) and the 2nd (Luhansk) Army Corps.

As the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reports on its Facebook page, the gunnery drills, in particular involving artillery, tanks, and combat vehicles, are held day and night in the training areas of the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

“Particular attention is paid to the coordination of actions of motorised rifle divisions, tank crews, artillery and mortar units,” the statement reads.

In addition, under the leadership of instructors – personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – a training exercise with fire adjusters of artillery units is underway with firing exercises involving 152mm Msta-B howitzers and Grad multiple rocket launchers.

As a reminder, on 1 December, the Russian Armed Forces began a new period of operational and combat training, including in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas. They also intensified the improvement of the fortification of the advanced positions.

The other day it became known that military mercenaries are actively recruited in Russia for “secondment” to Donbas.

Meduza media outlet spoke with several people, including veterans of Russia’s army special units and secret services, militants of the Wagner private military company, the Union of Donbas Volunteers, and several recruiters. All of them confirmed that groups of mercenaries were being actively prepared for “secondment” to the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Recruiters cannot explain the purpose of the operations, specific individuals, and name a different amount of payment.

Almost all of the interlocutors expressed serious doubts to journalists that the Russian military leadership was seriously planning to use these groups of mercenaries in combat operations in Donbas. It is assumed that it is either about the protection of industrial facilities in Donbas, or the fight against local “banditry.”

Bohdan Marusyak