ATO Staff spokesman: Militants shell Maryinka checkpoint using automatic grenade launchers

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Kyiv, February 12, 2016. “Pro-Russian militants continue violating the armistice in Donbas in the ATO zone. They are shelling Ukrainian Armed Forces’ positions using the whole range of weapons, especially 120-mm mortar launcher prohibited by the Minsk Agreements,” said ATO Staff spokesman, Colonel Andriy Zadubinnyi, via Skype at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. According to Col. Zadubinnyi, Ukrainian positions in Zaitseve, Krasnohorivka and Pisky came under militants’ fire in the past 24 hours. Moreover, militants used an anti-aircraft mount in Krasnohorivka.

“Russia-backed militants shot from grenade launchers of various systems and large machine guns at Ukrainian strongholds in Troitske, Verkhniotoretske, Mayorsk, Novhorodske, Luhanske, Opytne and Butivka coal mine. Terrorist attacked Mariinka checkpoint using automatic grenade launchers around 10 p.m.,” said Col. Zadubinnyi. The situation was difficult in the vicinity of Lebedynske and Hranitne in the Mariupol sector, where militants used grenade launchers and light arms.

In total, Russia-backed militant groups violated the ceasefire 148 times on February 9-11.

“For instance, the enemy shot at ATO troops’ strongholds near Maryinka from grenade launchers of various systems and light arms on February 9. Militants opened fire from mortar launchers and grenade launchers at Ukrainian strongholds in Zaitseve and Mayorsk,” said the spokesman. The situation was uneasy on the outskirts of Donetsk, where militants shot at Ukrainian positions in Pisky, Opytne and Avdiivka using grenade launchers and large machine guns. Militants were active near Talakivka and Shyrokyne in the Mariupol sector. “Our positions were attacked by mortar fire here. Moreover, the enemy used grenade launchers and small arms,” said Col. Zadubinnyi.

The most difficult situation held on February 10 in the suburbs of Donetsk and Horlivka. Militants were shelling Ukrainian positions in Pisky, Opytne, Avdiivka and Butivka coal mine from grenade launchers and large machine guns. “The adversary shot at Maryinka from small arms and grenade launchers seven times. Occupants used mortar launchers, grenade launchers and large machine guns in the vicinity of Horlivka. Our strongholds in Troitske and Novhorodske were attacked from grenade launchers of various systems. Russia-backed militants opened fire at Ukrainian checkpoints in Maiorsk and Zaitseve from 82-mm and 120-mm mortar launchers,” elaborated the spokesman. Moreover, Ukrainian positions in Krasnohorivka came under mortar fire.

Pro-Russian militants used grenade launchers and small arms to shoot at Ukrainian strongholds near Kodema, Starohnativka and Novohryhorivka. “Moreover, a civil Volkswagen Transporter minibus hit an explosive device on February 10, at 7:56 a.m., 600 meters from Maryinka checkpoint from the side of the temporarily occupied territories. The bus was standing in a line of vehicles proceeding from the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”). The driver ignored the signs warning of mine threat and crossed on the roadside, where explosion happened,” said Col. Zadubinnyi. There were five passengers in the vehicle.

Two of them died at the scene as a result of the blast and one person was wounded. An ambulance was called upon the scene. At 8:30 a.m. the injured were sent to a medical institution in Kurakhove. One wounded died in the ambulance on the way to hospital, added the spokesman.