ATO Staff spokesman: Pro-Russian militants violate ceasefire 20 times in the last 24 hours

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Kyiv, April 7, 2015. Situation in the ATO zone remained tense between 6 pm until midnight yesterday. Ukrainian servicemen recorded 20 cases of ceasefire violations on the part of pro-Russian militants, stated Lieutenant Colonel Serhiy Danylenko, ATO Staff spokesman, via Skype at a briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

Militants largely used small arms to instigate armed provocations against Ukrainian troops, however, they have also used mortars six times. “Most of ceasefire violations occurred in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian positions near the town of Hranitne came under fire from the militant Nona self-propelled gun from 6:05 pm util 6:12 pm. The militants attacked Ukrainian positions near the city of Avdiivka from 6:35 pm until 7:50 pm from 122-mm and 82-mm mortars. Also military positions near Opytne town came under fire between 7:36 pm until 7:40,” added Lt. Col. Danylenko.

According to the ATO Staff spokesman, the militants mortared the area south of Sokilnyky from 8:35 pm until 8:40 pm, as well as attacked from IFV and small arms. They have also used 120-mm mortars twice to shell near the town of Shyrokyne. “Ukrainian servicemen spotted two UAVs at around 8:00 pm in the Luhansk region. One was flying over Tryokhizbenka, heading to the town of Vesela Hora, while the other over Starobilsk on the way to Novoaidar,” said Lt Col. Danylenko.

The ATO Staff spokesman emphasized that the Ukrainian Armed Forces contain enemy’s provocations and retaliate only in case of a direct threat to the lives of our servicemen. Furthermore, Ukrainian forces are building up fortifications along the entire demarcation line.