During the chaos of the war of the pretenders in the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (LNR), the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) utilized political instability and uncertainty in an attempt to seize more territory, changing the line of contact in eastern Ukraine.

The Ukrainian side of the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) called reports of UAF advances “information provocations to discredit the UAF and ATO,” and stated the UAF is in full compliance with the Minsk agreements, as the UAF can “improve” its positions in eastern Ukraine so long as they are in alignment with the line of contact noted within the framework of the Minsk agreements.

The Press Center of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) reported the ATO headquarters requested, “people who cooperate with the UAF not distribute any information, photos, and video material related to tactical and operational actions (moving, changing positions, disclosure of units, promotion, etc),” following an incident in which leaked information endangered the safety of UAF troops in the Donbas.

Travneve and Hladosove, Donetsk Oblast

On November 26, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Special Monitoring Mission (OSCE SMM) to Ukraine followed-up on “allegations of the Ukrainian Armed Forces having moved into the village of Travneve,” a village north of Horlivka. Interviews with civilians and members of the UAF, reports from the so-called DNR “press center” as well as social media reports indicate that the UAF 24th Aidar Battalion and 54th Brigade moved into Travneve on November 22. Per the Minsk agreed line of contact, Travneve is designated on the Ukrainian side of the line.

Map of area seized by the UAF, showing Travneve and Hladosove in relation to the previous line of contact and current line of contact (with non-government-controlled areas shaded in red). (Source: MinskMonitor.Liveuamap.com)

Electricity supply was cut off in Travneve since November 14, and water was cut off since November 21. After UAF seizure, residents were unable to cross the road into non-government-controlled Holmivskyi from November 22–27 to go to their usual grocery store, as Travneve does not have one of its own. Travneve has about 120, mostly elderly, residents. After November 27, the road connecting newly-government-controlled Travneve, Hladosove, and non-government-controlled Holmivskyi, reopened to pedestrians.