Militants conduct massive artillery attack at Ukrainian positions near Lebedynske in Mariupol sector – Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk

WATCH IN ENGLISH

The situation is the most restless in the Donetsk sector, where militants fired over 180 mortar shells at Ukrainian positions in one day. Avdiivka industrial area remains the central flashpoint. Two insurgents’ subversive reconnaissance groups defeated in the Mariupol sector.

Kyiv, August 14, 2016. Militants conducted massive artillery attack at Ukrainian positions in the vicinity of Lebedynske village in the Mariupol sector after the dawn. “According to the General Staff’s estimates, militants launched over 100 122-mm missiles at our positions within one hour. Following this, the armistice held along the entire littoral area in the Mariupol sector,” said the spokesman of Presidential Administration on ATO-related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Lebedynske is located 4 km from the Azov Sea coast.

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Dokuchaevsk – Novotroitske – Bohdanivka – Starohnativka became another area of militants’ activity in the Mariupol sector. Insurgents violated the ceasefire just after the midnight when their subversive reconnaissance group consisting of up to four people attacked Ukrainian positions in the vicinity of Mykolaivka. “Owing to Ukrainian troops’ lightning response, the attack was successfully defeated. Another firefight took place two hours later near the adjacent Bohdanivka. Assailants’ tactics and weapons used during the attack were similar which allowed our defenders liquidate the threat promptly, making the enemy retreat,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. Moreover, militants launched 10 artillery missiles and seven large mortar shells in this area before the dawn. “The enemy violated the armistice yet another time late at night, shelling ATO troops from mortars near Novotroitske,” added the spokesman. Moreover, militants’ armed provocations were instigated in Mariinka, Pavlopol and Hnutove yesterday. In total, two firefights and 27 insurgents’ attacks took place in the Mariupol sector yesterday, nine of them involved used of heavy armor.

Russia-backed militant groups’ activity decreased considerably in the Luhansk sector in comparison with the day before. Insurgents used no heavy armor and the average time of one attack amounted to 10 minutes. The longest attack took place in Novooleksandrivka in the Popasna area. “Occupants were shelling ATO troops for 20 minutes there using automatic grenade launchers. Other areas of the enemy’s combat activity include Stanytsia Luhanska, Zhovtte village in Slovianoserbskyi district and Novozvanivka village near Popasna. In total, five hostile attacks took place in the Luhansk sector in the last 24 hours,” said the spokesman.

The situation remains difficult in the Donetsk sector. Ukrainian defense lines near Donetsk airport were the only calm frontline yesterday. Militants actively used mortar launchers along the rest of the frontline, launching over 180 mortar shells at Ukrainian positions within 24 hours. “The most intense hostile attacks took place during the hours of darkness. Avdiivka industrial area remains the central flashpoint. In total, 24 militants’ attacks took place in the Donetsk sector yesterday, more than a half of them involved use of mortar launchers,” informed Col. Motuzyanyk. Militants organized two reconnaissance flights in the Donetsk region yesterday using unmanned aerial vehicles.

Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no losses in combat yesterday, and three troops were wounded. Militants lost three people dead and seven injured. “Names of some wounded militants were identified. They are Mikhail Kolesnik (born in 1987), Viacheslav Makarov (born in 1981), Vladimir Kisieliov (born in 1973) and Anton Savin,” elaborated Col. Motuzyanyk.

According to the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, number of militants deserting the Russian proxy ranks with their weapons decreased due to considerable losses, regular extortions and forced participation in combat. “Eight militants deserted the frontline positions on August 11 and 12. According to the military intelligence, Russian command instructed to hunt them down. Subsequently, special commission conducted inspection on the temporarily occupied territories to find and destroy militants who deserted Russia-backed militant groups,” said the spokesman.