Ministry of Defense: Situation in ATO zone remains difficult

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The situation in the ATO zone remained restless yesterday. Russian proxies opened aimed fire from Minsk proscribed weapons in certain areas of the contact line. “The enemy was firing from 122-mm artillery cannons, 120-mm and 82-mm mortars, hitting not only Ukrainian troops’ positions, but residential quarters too,” said Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO- related issues Colonel Andriy Lysenko at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. In total, militants attacked 19 times along the entire frontline yesterday, opening aimed fire 18 times. Ukrainian troops returned fire with small arms and grenade launchers 16 times.

The situation was the most difficult in Mariupol sector. Militants were active in the afternoon, opening aimed fire eight times. “Ukrainian positions in Vodiane came under hostile 82-mm mortar fire twice, and our troops responded to hostile ‘hybrid’ provocations near Maryinkatwo times,” elaborated the spokesman. Militants used 122-mm artillery systems and 120-mm mortars against Ukrainian positions and residential quarters in Shyrokyne.

In Donetsk sector Russia-backed militant groups violated the ceasefire eight times, mostly in the evening and at night. The largest number of aimed attacks was recorded in the vicinity of Avdiivka industrial area and Zaitseve, where militants opened dense fire from infantry weapons several times. “The longest fight this day occurred at the approaches to Avdiivka. It lasted almost the entire afternoon with recesses. Ukrainian troops calmed down the enemy’s aggression using all authorized weapons systems,” said Col. Lysenko.

In Luhansk sector militants were active late at night. They attacked Ukrainian Armed Forces’ positions three times. Russian proxies fired fourteen 82-mm mortar rounds near Bohuslavske. Later they were shelling Ukranian strongholds near Triokhizbenka for almost 60 minutes using IFV weapons, grenade launchers and machine guns. “Our troops responded only to those attacks which posed threat to their lives, effectively using infantry weapons and anti-aircraft mounts. The adopted the same line of action near Triokhizbanka,” said the spokesman.

No Ukrainian serviceman was killed in action yesterday, but two troops were wounded in a shelling. “One soldier sustained injuries near Avdiivka and another one in the vicinity of Shyrokyne. Their health is in satisfactory condition and they are provided any medical assistance required,” elaborated Col. Lysenko.

Report on the military developments as of October 27 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.