Colonel Andriy Lysenko: Militants keep heavy armor in immediate battle area in Donetsk sector

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Heavy armor in use in Donetsk sector, Ukraine suffers casualties, adversary conducts reconnaissance.

Kyiv, June 1, 2016. According to the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, militants are still keeping heavy armor in immediate battle area in Donetsk sector. “These are mortar launchers, anti-aircraft mounts and Grad multiple rocket launcher systems. The weapons are located in Horlivka, Makiivka, Donetsk and Yakovlivka village adjacent to Yasynuvata road junction and Avdiivka industrial area,” informed spokesman of Presidential Administration on ATO-related issues Colonel Andriy Lysenko at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

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One Ukrainian serviceman died in the ATO zone yesterday and three were wounded. “Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred these losses in Zaitseve and Avdiivka as a result of hostile attacks,” elaborated the spokesman. Militants lost one killed and eight wounded. So-called “11th separate motorized rifle regiment” (Makiivka) and “9th separate assault motorized rifle regiment” (Novoazovsk) incurred the biggest losses.

14 militants’ attacks took place in the Mariupol sector yesterday, namely five mortar attacks and a number of snipers’ attacks. Russia-backed militant groups are violating the ceasefire along the entire frontline from Krasnohorivka to Shyrokyne. “Militant conducted reconnaissance in the ATO zone yesterday using unmanned aerial vehicles twice – near Novoaidar village and Bakhmut town,” added Col. Lysenko.

Militants shelled ATO troops’ positions 15 times in the Donetsk sector in the past 24 hours. “Regular mortar shellings delivered by occupants took place in Luhanske, Novoselivka Druha, Avdiivka and Opytne,” said the spokesman. Militants violated the armistice twice in Stanytsia Luhanska in the Luhansk sector.

Ukrainian intelligence services reported two militants detained. “One militants was detained in Sloviansk for joining Russia-backed militant groups and active participation in the occupation of the town and another one for serving in the ranks of “Prizrak” militant group and travel control from Lysychansk towards Luhansk,” informed Col. Lysenko.