Ministry of Defense: The number of casualties increases in eastern Ukraine despite yesterday’s de-escalation

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Russia-backed militants decreased the number of attacks in ATO zone yesterday. They violated the ceasefire a total of 17 times. Ukrainian troops returned fire in 11 cases, reported Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In Luhansk sector, Russian proxies committed nine ceasefire violations. They used grenade launchers and small arms near Valuiske, Zaitseve, Krymske, Lobacheve, Luhanske, Novooleksandrivka and Stanytsia Luhanska, and fired two 120-mm mortar rounds near Troitske. Ukrainian troops returned fire four times using small arms and light weapons when the hostile attacks posed a threat to their lives.

In Donetsk sector, Russia-backed militants delivered eight precision attacks. The tensest situation was observed near Avdiivka. “At about 11:00, the enemy shelled Ukrainian strongholds with 82-mm mortars having launched four rounds. Later in the day, four more hostile small arms attacks were recorded in the area,” Colonel Motuzyanyk said.

Russian proxies also used light weapons against Ukrainian troops’ positions near Maryinka, Novotroitske, Shyrokyne, and Shakhta Butovka. Ukrainian troops returned fire using weapons not proscribed under the Minsk agreements.

One Ukrainian serviceman was killed in action and three more were wounded. The incidents took place in Avdiivka area (shelling), near Shyrokyne (small arms attack), and near Verkhniotoretske (tripwire).

Report on the military developments as of December 7 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.