Ministry of Defense: Russia-backed militants make five precision attacks

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Russian proxies intensified their activities over the last day. They delivered five precision attacks against Ukrainian troops’ positions, having fired twenty 82-mm mortar rounds. “Militants were consciously violating the comprehensive ceasefire effective since March 5. They increased the number of attacks and used mortars yesterday,” said Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman Colonel Dmytro Hutsulyak at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In Luhansk sector, Russian proxies violated the ceasefire three times, all in the dark time of the day. At about 19:30, militants attacked Ukrainian positions near Stanytsia Luhanska with small arms. “Starting about 22:30, Russia-backed militants delivered an hour-long shelling on Ukrainian troops’ positions near Troitske and Luhanske using 82-mm mortars,” the Ministry of Defense spokesperson added. Near Troitske militants also used a ZU-23-2 antiaircraft cannon.

In Donetsk sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian troops in Pisky area about 13:00 using grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. At about 18:00, militants attacked Avdiivka with grenade launchers and anti-tank rifles.

Ukrainian troops did not return fire over the last day. Unfortunately, two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in action.

Report on the military developments as of March 20 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.