Militants fire over 690 mines and 250 artillery shells upon Ukrainian troops in all sectors – Colonel Lysenko

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Combined Russian-militant forces increase number of attacks upon Ukrainian troops. Fire Grad in the Mariupol sector, intensify attacks in the Luhansk sector. Ukrainian troops incur casualties.

Kyiv, August 30, 2016. Another escalation of combat activity by Russia-backed militants was registered in ATO zone yesterday. They were using mortars and artillery. “According to the information by Ukraine’s General Staff militants fired over 690 mines and 250 artillery shells towards ATO forces in all the three sectors. These types of weapons were most actively used in the Donetsk sector where the enemy was also using tanks,” said Colonel Andriy Lysenko, spokesman of Administration of the President of Ukraine on ATO-related issues at a press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Russia-backed militant groups also fired from Grad multiple rocket-launchers in the Mariupol sector yesterday, for the second time this summer.

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In the Luhansk sector the number of attacks by militant groups – 25 in total, increased twice compared to the previous day. “The area of Popasna, Zolote, Krymske, Zhovte and Stanytsia Luhanska remain hot spots. Same as earlier militants intensify their activities in the evening and make attacks until late night,” noted Colonel Lysenko. Snipers were firing in the area of the Bakhmutska road and near Popasna.

Attacks were made almost in all parts of the Donetsk sector. “Hottest situation was observed in Svitlodarsk area, in Avdiivka’s industrial zone and near the Donetsk airport. On the contact line between Butivka Mine – Opytne – Pisky the enemy was using tanks and starting from 7 p.m. artillery,” elaborated the ATO spokesman. Militant groups also fired from howitzers upon the rear area near Keramik, 13 km away from the contact line. Massive artillery attacks took place on the northern outskirts of Horlivka. According to Ukrainian military intelligence last night militants were also purposefully firing upon the territory they control – Trudovsky (Petrovsky district of Donetsk) and Yasynuvata.

“One Ukrainian serviceman was killed in action over the last day, nine were wounded in action. Two more Ukrainian troops got concussion,” reported Colonel Lysenko.

In the Mariupol sector highest number of attacks took place on the contact line between Maryinka and Krasnohorivka and in Shyrokyne. Militants launched dense mortar fire upon Ukrainian positions, fired Grad multiple rocket launcher systems in Krasnohorivka. “In the morning militant groups made another intense mortar attack upon ATO forces in Pavlopil having fired 60 mines over a couple of hours. Another incident that included mortar fire took place late in the evening near Taramchuk,” added Colonel Lysenko.

Three flights of militant unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were registered in ATO area yesterday. Two of them took place in the Luhansk sector near Shchastia and Popasna, one in the Donetsk sector.

Colonel Andriy Lysenko said that Ukraine’s Security Service detained a militant of the so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”). “The perpetrator has been part of a “Kazak” militant group since August 2015. He was collecting intelligence information to direct hostile artillery in Luhansk region. Law enforcement staff detained a person who was trying to cross the contact line near Zolote,” said the ATO spokesman.