Oleksandr Turchynov from the ATO zone: Over the past two weeks, the epicenter of Russian aggression has shifted towards Mariupol direction

Due to a significant increase in the number of shellings over the past two weeks, particularly in the Mariupol direction, Secretary of National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov visited this sector of the antiterrorist operation zone, where he held a meeting with the ATO military leadership.

According to Mr. Turchynov, over the last week solely, Ukrainian positions in the Mariupol sector were fired with over 3000 shells and mines.

During the meeting with the military, the situation on the front and measures to effectively counter the provocations of Russian-terrorist groupings were discussed. Moreover, the NSDC Secretary examined personnel's maintenance and readiness for actions during the winter period.

According to Oleksandr Turchynov, the situation in the ​​ATO zone remains tense, especially in the Mariupol direction: "The largest number of provocations and intensity of attacks are carried out near ​​Marinka, Krasnogorivka, Vodyane, and Shyrokyne". "Even during the negotiations in Normandy format, attacks on Ukrainian positions by the Russian aggressor did not stop", - Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine stated adding that during his stay in Vodyane and on the Ukrainian positions closest to Kominternovo, which is occupied by the aggressor, the Russian artillery was continuously firing our positions.

"Such actions of Russian-terrorist groupings prove the meanness and blasphemy of Putin's statements during international negotiations on the ceasefire, and clearly delineate the boundaries of his "sincere desire to resolve the conflict", - Mr. Turchynov said.

Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine also emphasized that we cannot exclude that the peace initiative of the Russian party "is just a disguise for the intensification of military confrontation".

"The Ukrainian military are ready for any pace of developments. Positions on the contact line are fortified and winterized. All the attempts of Russian-terrorist groupings to break through our defense line are doomed", - the NSDC Secretary stressed.