"After the forced closure of Zaitseve checkpoint, the pro-Russian militants began to apply the scorched earth tactics," the report says.
On the night of February 4, the terrorists fired 150 shells from the banned 120mm and 82mm mortars on the Ukrainian positions in the villages of Zaitseve and Mayorsk.
"Instead of ceasing fire and creating a safe environment for the resumption of operation of Zaitseve crossing point, the leaders of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" have decided to wipe out the entire village," the headquarters said.
Read also'Friendly' fire: Russian invaders fire Grad from Kominternove towards DPR-held villageSimilar activity is observed in other areas of the conflict zone -- in particular, near the village of Kominternove in the Mariupol sector and the village of Triokhizbenka in the Luhansk sector.
According to intel, in order to increase their financial, material, technical and other kinds of support from the Russian Federation, the militants are spreading rumors and deliberate disinformation to their Russian curators that Ukraine is preparing for an offensive.
They use the following methods: their mobile units open fire in the direction of the illegal armed groups, which is presented as a preparation for ATO forces' offensive.
Read alsoOSCE confirms use of heavy weapons in Zaitseve"Russian curators are provided with information, guised as reports from local population living in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities, about a large gathering of troops and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the directions of a possible attack," the press center said.
