Interfax: Ukrainian army admits retreat from 31st roadblock near Luhansk

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KYIV. Jan 21 (Interfax) – Ukrainian servicemen are in control of the 29th roadblock but the 31st roadblock has had to be abandoned because of a high risk to personnel. Both roadblocks are located in the area of Krymske in the Luhansk region, not far from the Bakhmutka road.

“We have had to retreat from the 31st roadblock for saving people’s lives. There are relevant units and people entitled to make decisions whether to leave roadblocks or not. It was decided to retreat yesterday,” Ukrainian army spokesman Leonid Matyukhin said on Wednesday morning.

As to the situation at the 31st and 29th roadblocks, he said Ukrainian troops were being regrouped in that area. “The 29th roadblock is ours. Regrouping is in progress there. There is regrouping near the 31st roadblock as well,” the ATO spokesman said.

He added that the amount of information regarding the Donetsk airport was limited to the public in order to ensure security.

In turn, head of the Luhansk region state administration Hennadiy Moskal told Interfax on Wednesday that the village of Novotoshkovka in the vicinity of the 29th roadblock had been shelled.

“Novotoshkovka [located] near the 29th roadblock came under fire; they bombed the roadblock and eight shells hit Novotoshkovka. There are direct hits and many homes are damaged. A residential building was hit directly but there were no casualties,” Moskal said.

“The 29th roadblock was shelled by artillery and other types of weapons all through the night. The fire has subsided just recently. They have survived,” the head of the region administration noted.

He said that water supply to Novotoshkovka had been cut off.

As to Stanitsa Luhanska, homes were damaged in militia attacks on Tuesday and early morning hours of Wednesday. For instance, a school was hit in the village of Artem near Stanitsa Luhanska but it had been abandoned a long time ago.

There is no information about casualties as of yet.

According to Moskal, there is neither water nor power in Stanitsa Luhanska at present.

All is quiet in Krymske now, he said. “There was massive shelling the previous night and about 100 homes were hit. Most villagers have left their homes so we have no information about possible casualties,” the head of the Luhansk region state administration said.

 

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