American Military News by Ryan Morgan 2/17/2022
Pro-Russian separatist forces in eastern Ukraine have accused Ukrainian forces of artillery attacks Thursday, refreshing concerns in Ukraine and the west that pro-Russian elements may attempt a “false flag” operation as a pretext to invade Ukraine.
On Thursday, Russia also accused the U.S. of failing to give a constructive response to its security concerns around Ukraine and said it may have to take its own actions, including military measures, to satisfy those security concerns.
Russia’s state-run TASS News Agency reported claims from Oleg Nikitin, a militia leader in the pro-Russian separatist region of Donetsk, who said they were attacked by Ukrainian forces and returned retaliatory fire.
A Ukrainian military statement said pro-Russian separatists fired first. The Ukrainian military said the separatists fired 32 shells, which damaged a kindergarten, injured three kindergarten workers and knocked out power in the area. The Ukrainian military said, “Ukrainian defenders opened fire in response to stop the activity of the opponent only in case of threatening the lives of soldiers.”
“It should be noted that the opponent continues to use his propaganda methods of conducting an information war to accuse the Armed Forces of Ukraine of shelling civilians, hiding their own sneaky actions,” the Ukrainian military said.
More:
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2022/02/shelling-attacks-begin-in-ukraine-as-russia-threatens-military-action-adds-7000-troops/
