ATO staff spokesperson: Russia-backed militants attack Ukrainian forces 250 times over past four days

WATCH IN ENGLISH

Kyiv, July 14, 2015. Situation in the ATO zone remains tense. Russia-backed militants continued firing at Ukrainian military positions with 152- and 122-mm artillery, 120-mm mortars, tanks and multiple rocket launchers. “Between July 10 and July 14, Ukrainian troops were fired upon approximately 250 times. The highest number of incidents was registered in Avdiivka, Opytne, Pisky, Verkhnyotoretske, Novotoshkivske, Luhanske, Lozove, Troyitske, Mayorsk, Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote,” said Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Gutsulyak, ATO Staff spokesperson, at a Ukraine Crisis Media Center press briefing via Skype.

Over July 13, militants fired over 80 times at ATO force positions and at peaceful residential areas. Militants used 152- and 122-mm artillery five times, and 120-mm mortars, tanks and multiple rocket launchers 32 times. “At 11:25 a.m., militants shelled the positions of Ukrainian forces near Nevelske, Donetsk region with BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers. Strongholds of Ukrainian troops in Opytne, Avdiivka, Maryinka, Novhorodske, Krasnohorivka, Mayorsk, Pisky, Vodyane, Leninske and Khimik were fired upon from 6:00 p.m. until midnight,” added Lt. Col. Gutsulyak.

In the Luhansk and Mariupol sectors, ceasefire was generally holding. Militants fired on Ukrainian forces near Krymske and a sniper was working in Shyrokyne. However, in Luhansk sector, the enemy was conducting active aerial reconnaissance. “Today at 00:15, the enemy started firing at the positions of Ukrainian forces near Pisky from tanks. A sniper was working in Shyrokyne at 4:00 a.m. The enemy conducted provocative fire near Shchastya, Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske, Mayorsk and Luhanske,” noted Lt. Col. Gutsulyak.

On July 12, militants fired at residential parts of Popasna, using 152-mm artillery, attacked Opytne with mortar fire, and attacked residential areas in Avdiivka with 122-mm howitzers. The next day, the enemy used 120-mm mortars in the same area.

On July 10, Russia-backed militants shelled Svitlodarsk with 152-mm artillery and Avdiivka with 120-mm mortars.