Militants began to use the "scorched-earth" tactics in Zaytsevo after the forced closure of the checkpoint in Artemovsk direction by the ATO command, - informs the press-center of the anti-terrorist operation.
"After the forced closure of the Zaitsevo checkpoint by the ATO command, pro-Russian militants began to apply the "scorched-earth" tactics . At night on February 4th, the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Zaytsevo and Mayorsk were fired by terrorists with more than 150 mines from 120 and 82 mm mortars, prohibited by the Minsk agreements. Instead of keeping to cease-fire and providing safe conditions for the resumption of work of Zaytsevo checkpoint, leaders of the so-called DPR decided to wipe off the map the entire village,"- said the statement.
It is noted that such actions are observed in other areas: in particular, near Kominternovo in Mariupol direction and Trehizbenk in Luhansk direction.
According to operational information of the ATO headquarters, militants of the "DPR" and "LPR" are spreading rumors and openly misinforming their Russian curators about the offensive preparation by the ATO forces in order to increase financial, material, technical and other kinds of support from the Russian Federation.
"For this purpose, they use the following methods: mobile units open fire in the direction of the IMF, which is reported as a fire training for an offensive by the ATO forces. Russian curators are provided with the information, allegedly received from locals living on the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, about concentration of troops and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the direction of the possible offensive,"- said the statement.
Measures, taken by the ATO headquarters to ensure the safety of people, are falsified as an attempt to conceal preparations for the offensive.