Fighting intensified over the night of April 24-April 25, the Ukrainian ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] reported on its Facebook page.
The drama involving a clash of wills between Moscow officials and Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrov took another turn early this morning Moscow time as Kadyrov decided not to let the matter rest but challenged the head of the Investigative Committe again.
Leviy Bereg reports that the Ukrainian military’s ATO press centre has claimed that Russian-backed fighters have attacked Ukrainian positions 29 times between midnight and 18:00 today.
Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko has announced this evening on the Ukraina television channel that, in the event of an offensive by Russian-backed forces, he will propose the introduction of martial law.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has presented evidence today that Ukrainian troops in the Donbass are being attacked with advanced Russian anti-tank missiles that have not been exported to Ukraine.
The Russian Interior Ministry has pronounced “impermissible” a defiant statement from Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov that he had authorized troops in the Chechen Interior Ministry to fire on law-enforcers from other Russian regions if they pursued activities in his republic without notification.
The Ukrainian military’s ATO press centre claims that Russian-backed fighters committed 21 violations of the ceasefire between 18:00 and midnight yesterday. The report says that Russian-backed fighters used both heavy artillery, including 120 mm mortars and 122 mm howitzers, and tanks in their attacks.
Novaya Gazeta has reported further this evening on the scandal around Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who was reported to have ordered his troops to shoot at law-enforcers from other republics who operated on Chechen territory without coordinating with his people.
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said he is prepared to step down from his post if necessary, Yod News reported, citing RIA Novosti. The Interpreter has translated his statement..
A Russian journalist lit a grass fire with a cigarette to get better footage for a news program, Gazeta.ru and the Khakasiya News Agency reported.
