Colonel Andriy Lysenko: Militants shoot 52 times in the Donetsk sector yesterday, one in three involve use of heavy armor, including 152-mm artillery

Kyiv, March 30, 2016. Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no losses in the ATO zone yesterday, but four troops were wounded. Combat activity escalated dramatically in the Luhansk sector. Seven militant’s attacks were registered yesterday. “Two attacks with sniping fire took place in Shchastia. Moreover, occupants repeatedly violated the ceasefire in Popasna district, shooting from grenade launchers and small arms. Two civilians were injured; one came under militants’ fire in Novooleksandrivka village and another tripped an explosive device laid by militant subverters,” informed Colonel Andriy Lysenko, Presidential Administration spokesperson on ATO related issues, at a briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

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Militants shot 52 times in the Donetsk sector yesterday, one in three attacks involved use of heavy armor. Zaitseve and Avdiivka remain the main flashpoints, hostilities lasting there non-stop. “Occupants launched about 250 mortar shells at our positions. Moreover, the enemy used 152-mm artillery in Zaitseve, launching 10 missiles. Militants snipers were active as well – sniping fire was delivered in Novhorodske, Avdiivka and Opytne,” said the spokesman. He added that the situation was restless along the entire frontline, from the Svitlodarsk bulge to the Donetsk airport.

The situation was the most difficult in the Mariupol sector, where Russia-backed militant groups shelled ATO troops’ positions two times using mortar launchers and committed a series of minor provocations. Moreover, militants violated the armistice in Starohnativka, Vodiane and Talakivka. “In total, nine militants’ attacks took place in the Mariupol sector yesterday,” said Col. Lysenko.  Moreover, a militants’ unmanned aerial vehicle was observed near Bilosaraisky plait, 20 km south east of Mariupol.

Law enforcement officers detained a militant of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”) in Druzhkivka. He was keeping watch at a checkpoint, carrying weapons, in March-June 2014. “The detainee is actively cooperating with the investigation now and giving evidence,” added Col. Lysenko. He also informed that the third joint police taskforce came to Avdiivka for rotation. They will be maintaining public order for the following two weeks. “Law enforcements working in the town managed a considerable progress. Six facts of arms, ammunition and explosives trafficking were stopped. Four ball grenades, a gun, over 120 cartridges and a large amount of explosives were seized from the local inhabitants,” said the spokesman.