Militants fire over 60 mortar mines in Dokuchaievsk area – MOD spokesperson

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The number of attacks in the Mariupol sector equals to the respective number in the Luhansk and Donetsk sectors altogether. Mariupol and its eastern outskirts remain the hottest spot.

“The situation in the Mariupol sector remains unchanged. Yesterday’s number of ceasefire violations in the sector is 40, this equals to the overall number in the Luhansk and Donetsk sectors altogether. Combined Russian-and-militant troops were using artillery near Dokuchaievsk where they fired over 60 mines,” said Colonel Lysenko, spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on ATO-related issues during a press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Militants were using heavy weapons in the Mariupol sector more actively than in the two other ones. They fired over 100 mines and 20 artillery shells towards Ukrainian positions. “The adversary also used mortars in the Marinka area. Eastern outskirts of Mariupol account for the major part of hostile attacks, however, yesterday militants fired heavy weapons less frequently there,” said Colonel Lysenko.

Ukrainian troops incurred no lethal casualties over the last day, six servicemen were wounded in action.

In the Luhansk sector combat actions of low and mid intensity continue in Popasna and Novoaydarsk districts. Militants made a number of attacks upon Ukrainian positions near Popasna, some of the attacks involved the use of heavy weapons. After the sunset they held a massive mortar attack upon Ukrainian positions in Krymske having fired over 50 mines. In Stanytsia Luhanska Russia-backed militants violated ceasefire once, the incident took place at night. The short-lasting attack included the use of small arms. “Luhansk sector accounts for a total of 13 militant attacks over the last day. Six of them included the use of heavy weapons,” summarized the ATO spokesperson.

In the Donetsk sector, namely in Avdiivka and its outskirts the situation became much calmer. All the attacks were of sporadic nature. Mortars were the only type of heavy weapons used by militants. They fired about 20 mines during the morning attack upon the industrial zone. “Four ceasefire violations were registered at the Svitlodarsk bulge. All the episodes were short-lasting and included the use of small arms and grenades. Yesterday the adversary mortared only the northern outskirts of Horlivka and Nevelske,” said Colonel Lysenko. Russia’s proxies made a total of 27 attacks in the Donetsk sector over the last day, five of them included the use of heavy weapons.

Report on the military developments as of March 9 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.