Colonel Andriy Lysenko: Militants shoot from 122-mm “Gvozdika” self-propelled artillery mount in Mariupol sector

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Donetsk region: militants shell in the Mariupol sector decreased. Adversary uses cannon artillery, launches bombs. Luhansk region: ceasefire is violated along the entire contact line with light weapons. 
Once serviceman of Ukraine’s Armed Forces died.

Kyiv, April 18, 2016. A number of militants’ shelling in the Mariupol sector decreased drastically in the past 24 hours, namely near Mariinka, Shyrokyne, in the vicinity of Dokuchaevsk – next to Ukrainian strongholds and a checkpoint on the Donetsk-Mariupol road. “The adversary used mortar launchers twice yesterday and cannon artillery – 122-mm “Gvozdika” self-propelled artillery mount – once. In total, at least 20 shells and 20 bombs were launched at Ukrainian positions. 29 hostile attacks took place in the Mariupol sector in the past 24 hours,” informed Colonel Andriy Lysenko, spokesman of Presidential Administration on ATO-related issues at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

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In the Luhansk sector militants violated the ceasefire along the entire contact line from Stanytsia Luhanska to Popasna, mostly at nighttime. In total, militant groups shot at ATO troops’ positions five times, using mortar launcher once. 45 attacks took place in the Donetsk sector yesterday, one in three involved use of heavy armor. “Traditionally, the hostilities were the most intense at the Svitlodarsk bulge, north outskirts of Horlivka, Avdiivka industrial area and the Donetsk airport,” informed the spokesman.

Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no losses in combat yesterday; one serviceman was wounded by shelling in Pisky.

“Another serviceman died in Stanytsia Luhanska yesterday. He tripped a landmine, driving in a vehicle. An officer of the State Border Guard was wounded today after midnight,” said Col. Lysenko.

According to the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, militants lost one person dead and three wounded yesterday. These militants were members of so-called “11th separate motorized rifle regiment of the 1st Army Corps” of the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”). “Moreover, six militants from the “4th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 2nd Army Corps” of the self-proclaimed “Luhansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”) died near Pervomaisk as a result of ammunition equipment blast,” added the spokesman. Moreover, the intelligence received information on withdrawal of most subdivisions of so-called “10th separate motorized rifle regiment of the 1st Army Corps” of self-proclaimed “DPR” due to substantial loss of manpower near Avdiivka, more than 100 militants in six weeks. They were replaced by new troops from three other so-called militant “brigades”.

Col. Lysenko informed that Ukrainian troops brought down a militants’ unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Novoselivka village in Donetsk region. “The downed ZALA 421-04M UAV made in Russia is intended for conducting reconnaissance in adverse weather conditions and for dropping small loads. It must be said that attacks at Ukrainian troops’ positions in the area always increased after flights of hostile UAVs,” said the spokesman. He added that the Security Service of Ukraine is studying information from the UAV at present.