Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk: Losses in the ATO zone amounted to one killed and two wounded

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Situation in the ATO zone is still tense mostly in Donetsk region, Ukraine suffers casualties, so does the adversary, who conducts reconnaissance flights. Ukrainian Armed Forces receive another evidence of Russia’s direct involvement in the conflict.

Kyiv, May 31, 2016. One Ukrainian serviceman died in combat in the ATO zone yesterday and two were wounded, informed spokesman of the Presidential Administration on ATO related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

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“Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred these losses in the Donetsk sector,” he said. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, militants lost two fighters killed and six wounded yesterday from self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”) acting in the Avdiivka industrial area and on Novoazovsk-Mariupol road.

Russia-backed militant groups attacked 10 times in the Donetsk sector, almost all of them involved use of mortar launchers. “According to the command staff’s estimates, almost 140 mortar shells were launched from 82-mm and 120-mm mortar launchers. Hostile attacks took place along the entire frontline from Luhanske to Opytne. Occupants almost always opened fire at nighttime,” informed Col. Motuzyanyk. Moreover, six flights of unmanned aerial vehicles were observed in the Donetsk sector.

Combat activity in the Mariupol sector mostly took place in Mariinka and Volnovakha districts. “For instance, militants’ mortar shelling took place near Kransnohorivka, and snipers were active in Novotroitske. In total, nine hostile attacks took place in the Mariupol sector yesterday,” informed the spokesman.

Militants violated the ceasefire twice in the Luhansk sector. “In particular, a 90-minutes firefight took place at night near Stanytsia Luhanska in which an armored personnel carrier was used. Moreover, occupants’ mortar shelling took place near Novotoshkivka on Bakhmutivska road,” elaborated Col. Motuzyanyk.

Ukrainian troops seized a modern Russian-manufactured anti-personnel flame thrower MRO-A included into inventory of the Russia Armed Forces in 2003. “This is another evidence of Russia systematically supplying its mercenaries in the east of Ukraine with weapons,” said the spokesman. Col. Motuzyanyk added that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, militants receive another batch of weapons from Russia: “Five tanks, four armored vehicles, two Grad multiple rocket launcher systems, two self-propelled artillery mounts, four carriages with ammunition and three fuel tanks with diesel fuel were delivered to Khartsyzk railway station. Moreover, nine fuel tanks with diesel fuel arrived at Ilovaisk station.

Law enforcements detained a former militant in Kostiantynivka. “In February-July 2015 the man served in the ranks of self-proclaimed “DPR” and maintained access control at a checkpoint near Shyrokyne,” said the spokesman.