Ministry of Defense: Situation in Donetsk and Mariupol sectors is escalating

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Escalation was registered along the contact line in ATO zone yesterday. Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no losses in action, but five servicemen were wounded, informed Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk during a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In Donetsk sector militants delivered 27 attacks in 24 hours, using mortars six times. Russian proxies fired over 50 mortar rounds near Avdiivka. In total, attacks continued over 12 hours. In other areas, the situation was difficult at Svitlodarsk area, northern outskirts of Horlivka and near Donetsk airport. “Hostile attacks weren’t sporadic yesterday; on the contrary, the enemy was systematically shelling Ukrainian strongholds. On the average, each ceasefire violation lasted 30 to 60 minutes,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. No heavy weapons were used here.

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In Mariupol sector militants’ attacks in Hnutove, Vodiane and Shyrokyne started just after midnight and continued all day with pauses. Russia-backed militants shelled Ukrainian positions in Vodiane with mortars and artillery after 18.00. Near Dokuchaievsk Russian proxies fired over 30 mortar rounds at Ukrainian positions in Novotroitske and Berezove. They conducted an attack there late at night using mortars and artillery. Moreover, hostile sniper was active in Novotroitske during the day.

In Maryinka district militants shelled Ukrainian positions with grenade launchers in the afternoon. Shooting attacks continued with pauses till the evening. Militants briefly attacked Maryinka and Krasnohorivka with mortars after 19:00 “Several hostile projectiles landed directly in residential quarters of Avdiivka, injuring a 38-year-old man. The casualty was taken to hospital,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. In total, 31 militants’ attack took place in Mariupol sector yesterday, and six of them involved heavy weapons.

Militants violated the ceasefire eight times in Luhansk sector. Russian proxies used mortars in Katerynivka around 19%00, firing 15 mortar rounds at Ukrainian positions. In Stanytsia Luhanska they attacked with light weapons three times – after midnight, during the day and late at night. Militants fired three mortar shells at Krymske during the day, and conducted a brief armed provocation in Lobacheve.

Report on the military developments as of April 10 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.