Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk: Militants shelled observers of Joint Center for Control and Coordination using mortar launchers, vehicle seriously damaged

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Two Ukrainian troops injured in combat, as militants continue attacking in all the sectors. Shelling in Mariupol and Donetsk sector increased comparing to yesterday’s.

Kyiv, August 21, 2016. Militants shelled a vehicle of Ukrainian monitoring group of Joint center for control and coordination (JCCC). The incident took place at 4:20 p.m. “Militants launched 15 mortar shells from prohibited mortar launchers and hit the group’s vehicle. JCCC representatives themselves managed to find shelter, but their vehicle was seriously damaged. The incident could have turned fatal but for quick reflexes of Ukrainian representatives,” said the spokesman of Presidential Administration on ATO-related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefingat Ukraine Crisis Media Center.The incident has already been reported to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM). At the same time, it is registered that militants decrease their activities  during the work of the SMM and its unmanned aerial vehicles. “Two subdivisions of Russian occupational forces – so-called 6th and 9th regiments – started maintaining ceasefire, limited movement of weapons and military equipment and masked it,” elaborated Col. Motuzyanyk.

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Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no losses in combat in the ATO zone yesterday, and two troops were wounded. According to the available information, three militants died and four were injured. The most intense hostilities continued in the Mariupol sector: Russia-backed militant groups violated the armistice 38 times there, 12 incidents involved use of heavy weapons and armor. “The situation is the most difficult near Mariinka where militants are shooting from the wide range of weapons – from small arms and grenade launchers to mortar launchers and armor. Russian occupational forces were using mortar launchers along the entire frontline in the sector, namely near Novohryhorivka, Shyrokyne, Vodiane, Starohnativka, Talakivka and Krasnohorivka. In total the enemy launched 124 mortar shells from 82-mm and 120-mm mortar launchers. Moreover, hostile armored personnel carriers were deployed near two latter inhabited localities,” informed the spokesman. He added that militants were simultaneously using small arms, machine guns and grenade launchers. Sporadic armed provocations took place near Taramchuk, Hnutove and Novotroitske.

Militants violated the ceasefire 26 times in the Donetsk sector, using heavy weapons 17 times. “Two thirds of hostile attacks were delivered at ATO troops near the Donetsk airport, first of all Avdiivka, Pisky, Opytne and Butovka coal mine. In total, occupants launched 179 mortar shells and 63 artillery missiles in this area,” informed Col. Motizyanyk. Militants delivered artillery attack at the northern outskirts of Horlivka using 122-mm mounts. Moreover, they launched five mortar shells on the outskirts of Horlivka, near Zaitseve. Russian proxies were shooting from grenade launchers and small arms near Leninske and Verkhniotorentske. “The situation in the Svitlodarsk bulge remains strenuous, but the number of hostile attacks decreased. Militants opened fire from mortar launchers, large machine guns and grenade launchers twice,” added Col. Motuzyanyk.

Russia-backed militant groups violated the ceasefire seven times in the Luhansk sector. Most attacks took place near Zolote and Krymske village, involving use of grenade launchers and small arms. “A sniping attack was registered near Novooleksandrivka, and 12 82-mm mortar shells were launched by militants near the adjacent Novozvanivka,” added the spokesman.

According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, five more railway cars carrying ammunition for militants arrived from Russia yesterday. The Cars were unloaded at Mospyne station.

Colonel Motuzyanyk informed that Ukrainian troops seized so-called “Porechenkov’s machine gun” in combat recently. “Ukrainian troops defeated an attack of subversive group and seized Utios machine gun which became notorious after a Russian propaganda news item showing the Russian actor Mikhail Porechenkov shooting at our troops defending the Donetsk airport” said the spokesman.