Kyiv, May 17, 2016.Ten hostile attacks took place in the Mariupol sector. “The enemy launched over 50 mortar shells at our positions near Dokuchaevsk,” said the spokesman of the Presidential Administration on ATO related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. According to him, Russia-backed militants were dropping hollow charge grenades from unmanned aerial vehicle, attacking ATO rear military supply depot located 20 km from the frontline.
Militants violated the ceasefire in the Luhansk sector once near Triokhizbenka. Hostilities in the Donetsk sector took place only in the vicinity of Avdiivka. Russia-backed militant groups started intense artillery preparation fire immediately after midnight, shooting from mortar launchers, Gvozdika 122-mm cannons and tanks. It lasted for two hours. “58 artillery shells, 15 tank projectiles and almost 50 mortar shells were launched at our positions,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. According to the intelligence, militants are using two Orlan-10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Leer-3 electronic warfare systems. In total, militants shelled Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk sector seven times, using heavy armor five times. Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no losses in the past 24 hours, five troops were wounded. “The adversary incurred losses yesterday: one wounded from so-called “9th separate assault marine motorized rifle regiment” as well as one dead and two wounded militants from so-called “100th separate motorized rifle brigade” who tripped their own mines near Mariinka,” said Col. Motuzyanyk.
Moreover, the spokesperson informed that the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained a Ukrainian citizen. Russian special services made an attempt to recruit him. “The man went to Russia to earn money when he was a teenager, and was working in Izhevsk. According to the received instructions, the man was supposed to transfer information regarding the Armed Forces of Ukraine and participate in armed provocations. Following his return to Ukraine, the young man instantly informed Ukrainian law enforcements of his recruitment. He was released from criminal liability,” said the spokesman.
