By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
At least two SU-25 ground interdiction combat aircraft have been shot down by pro Russian militia Friday in Ukraina, according to pro Russian news accounts.
According to news from the pro Russian Voice of Sevastopol and the Russian military blogger Colonel Cassad, militia forces claim to have shot down four, but only have photographic proof of two.
Some Ukrainian media, such as Ukraine Press totally dispute the contention of loss of aircraft calling the reports "imaginary" and attributed to Russian special forces attempting to spread panic.
The aircraft were reportedly shot down somewhere over Donetsk oblast, in both cases by militia forces using man packed antiaircraft missile launchers (MANPADs). The SU-25 is a dedicated ground interdiction aircraft, said to be very difficult to bring down by conventional ground fire due to its robust construction.
No indication from either side exists as to the fate of the pilots.
Meanwhile in far southern Donetsk on the coast of the Sea of Azov on Sunday, pro Russian militias in Novoazovsk returned fire after they were fired on by two Ukrainian patrol boats, sinking both boats. An attempt to retrieve sailors in the water by two smaller Ukrainian craft was made, which were also fired on by militias.
Also on the coast of the Sea of Azov, pro Russian media is reporting that the paratroopers captured during the first of the battles along with southern coast of Donetsk have been returned to Russia, according to Russian press outlet Russia Today.
A Friday statement released by the deputy commander of Russia's airborne forces, General Major Alexei Ragozin said that the 12 soldiers captured last week have been returned safely to Russia, after negotiations with the Ukrainian government he characterized as "very difficult" in the early going.
The soldiers were said to have stumbled into Ukraina along an unmarked portion of the Ukraina-Russian border. Their units, traveling aboard four infantry fighting vehicles, were fired on by Ukrainian military forces. The vehicles, said to be BMD-1s were destroyed by Ukrainian tank gunfire.
Ukrainian media and government reports continue to claim that Russian military forces are directly involved in the fighting in Donetsk, which both pro Russian militia and Russian officials deny. Reports from last week claim to show Russian self propelled artillery units parked just inside the Ukrainian border, presumably providing artillery fire support for militia forces.
Ukrainian media also say that several Russian military units, notably the Russian 9th Motorized Rifle Brigade and an airborne rifle regiment were located deep inside Ukraina providing direct help to militias.
A report posted on Burko News said that last Tuesday night a number of Russian armor vehicles including the 152mm 2S3 self propelled artillery vehicle and some unidentified armored vehicles had slipped into Ukraina near the border post of Izvaryne. Another 20 Russian main battle tanks came across the border on Wednesday during the day.
Ukrainian border guards and security forces are said to have intercepted another Russian military convoy near Uspenka and destroyed it. The action took place on August 23rd. Among the destroyed equipment were reportedly 20 military vehicles including two BTR-80s. A total of 26 militants said to be of both Russian and Chechen nationality were killed. Two were captured.
Ukrainian forces experienced no losses during the encounter.
A late report on Burko News said that Russian social media is reporting heavy losses to one Russian tactical group totaling nine main battle tanks, 18 armored personnel carriers, 43 Ural trucks, and 230 personnel. The report failed to note the location of the unit and how it suffered losses.
The Ukrainian press say personnel from as many as eight separate units are currently operating inside of Donetsk and Lugansk. Other Ukrainian reports suggest that those units have been freshly moved into the region by the Russians.
Pro Russian militia say the the situation in Mariupol is calm, even as militia forces claim to have the town fully invested. Reports are that Ukrainian mortar teams continue to shell militia forces holding the coastal town of Novoazovsk, which fell to militia forces last week.
According to the Voice of Sevastopol, militia have taken the coastal village of Yalta further to the west and south of Mariupol, which completes the encirclement of Mariupol. Reports from pro Russian militia say that Mariupol could fall within two weeks.
This is in contradiction of reports from both sides about how heavily Mariupol was being reinforced by Ukrainian forces and how the town was being used by Ukrainian police battalions, such as the Donbass and Azov police battalions as an area for rest and refit for units burned out in the fighting further northeast.
Latest reports are that militias have further reinforced their positions near Novoazovsk.
Further northeast between Lugansk and Donetsk, where militias claimed 7,000 Ukrainian effectives have been surrounded, fighting continues, as militia forces attempt to mop up the pockets with fierce resistance from Ukrainian forces.
Attempts to maneuver inside the pocket have created opportunities for firefights between militias and Ukrainian forces. Those battles have been characterized as "very bloody" for both sides.
As matters stand now, Ukrainian forces are blocking the roads M04 between Yurievka and Yuvelinya, and E40 near Gorlovka. Both sites are southwest of Lugansk.
Further south along H21, Ukrainian and militia forces are locked in combat in Lutugino, a town which fell to militias three days ago. Reports at the location are that Ukrainian forces are commandeering private residences to use as firing points. Militia forces say that 10 of their troops have been killed by Ukrainian mortar fire.
Ukrainian forces say their mortar fire struck targets near "Chervonaya Polyana, roadblocks near Georgievka, Stanitsa Luganskaya, and for nearly four hours mortar attacks at roadblocks near Lutugino and Gerasimovka".
Saturday, August 30th
According to Donetsk prime minister Alexander Zakharchenko, Ukrainian police forces caught in encirclement between Lugansk and Donetsk were offered a ceasefire to leave the area without weapons, equipment and ammunition.
A separate report is that Ukrainian forces attempted to break out of their encirclement but first destroying equipment and armor, which was a violation of the ceasefire. Those forces were fired on by pro Russian militias. According to the Defense Minister of Donetsk, Vladimir Kononov, those Ukrainian forces were attacked because they failed to take advantage of the militias' "generous offer".
According to Ukrainian press those attempting to leave in violation of the terms were hit by Russian artillery. According to the pro Ukrainian Russian language news services, losses to the Ukrainians were said to be in the hundreds.
According to a report in the pro Russian Voice of Sevastopol, Alexander Zakharchenko added that the militias do not intend to storm Mariupol, but that the city will fall soon.
Another report said that pro Ukrainian militia, notably the Right Sector political organization and Ukrainian National Guard units have killed an undisclosed number of civilians inside of Mariupol for being sympathetic to pro Russian militias.
Pro Russian militias repelled four attacks Friday night by Ukrainian forces around Mariupol with losses totaling in the "dozens" for the pro Ukrainian forces. Fighting is said to be constant near Mariupol as pro Russian militias prepare to take Mariupol.
A separate report said that an attempt was made on Alexander Zakharchenko's life. His driver was wounded, but Zakharchenko was unharmed.
Sunday, August 31st
On Sunday pro Russian militias claimed to have taken control of parts of the airport in Lugansk, inasmuch as militias earlier claimed to have taken the airfield by storm 10 days ago. Currently Ukrainian forces were forced back a small distance to the south and southwest of the airfield.
Social media rumors are that some soldiers caught inside the Lugansk pocket are attempting to get the Ukrainian government to negotiate their safe passage from the area. Units that were ejected from the airfield were identified as the Ukrainian 79th, 24th and 80th Brigades.
Militias also have encircled the airport north of Donetsk. Fighting to clean up the pocket is still going on.
Indications are that even in the most favorable circumstances for the pro Russian militia, taking complete control of either of the air fields is weeks away.
Artillery Fire in Donetsk
Friday pro Russian news sources said Ukrainian artillery fire on Donetsk continued, with mortars hitting the railway station, Kuibyshev and Petrovski districts, the Kalinkino and Budenovsky districts and the Kalinin district. Artillery hits were reported in several locations on the northern outskirts of the city. The Kalinkino district was said to have been hit with rocket artillery fire. Residences in several areas were hit by artillery.
A separate report said that a mobile Ukrainian group had driven through the city firing small arms on militia targets.
Saturday Ukrainian artillery fire hit the Verhnekalmiusskaya water treatment plant in Donetsk, which is reportedly the only source of water for Donetsk.
In the afternoon artillery strike were recorded in Petrovsky, Kievsky and Leninsky districts. Two dead were reported.
On Sunday artillery hit in Donetsk in Kuibyshevskoye and in an area called "Azotny".
Chris Covert writes news for Rantburg.com