Ministry of Defense: Four civilians killed in militants’ shelling of Avdiivka; Novoluhanske shelled with Grad MLRS

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In Donetsk sector militants violated the ceasefire 18 times, using heavy weapons in 12 incidents. They were actively using cannons and mortars in Avdiivka and the vicinities yesterday. One of the militants’ projectiles hit a private house, killing four family members and wounding one. “Russian proxies were shooting from the south from the direction of Spartak. Their cynical war crime orphaned two children,” said Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

At Svitlodarsk area pro-Russian militants were massively attacking Ukrainian positions with mortars, APC weapons, grenade launchers and sniper rifles, shooting from eastern direction. Shooting attacks from the temporarily occupied Horlivka started after the sunset. “After 22:00 the enemy launched whole ammunition load (40 rockets) from Grad MLRS at Novoluhanske resulting in destructions on the premises of agricultural enterprise and damaging an adjacent gas pipeline,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. Following this attack, militants continued mortar shelling and light weapons attacks.

Russian proxies fired four mortar rounds and used small arms in Zaitseve in the evening. In Verkhniotoretske enemy snipers were active during the day and a mortar attack occurred in the afternoon. Russia-backed militants attacked with light weapons Ukrainian positions near Pisky after the dawn.

In Mariupol sector militants conducted 33 ceasefire violations yesterday, 11 attacks involved heavy weapons. In the Maryinka district they discharged six mortar rounds at Krasnohorivka after midnight and two more after 10:00. “Russian proxies were shelling Maryinka with mortars from 20:00 to 22:00. Several shells hit residential quarters in the eastern part of the town,” added the spokesman. Near Dokuchaevsk militants attacked Ukrainian positions at dawn with APC weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. Moreover, two hostile provocations were recorded in Mykolaivka and Novoselivka Druha. In the south militants used heavy weapons to attack Ukrainian positions in Chermalyk, Vodiane and Shyrokyne.

In Luhansk sector militants performed 10 attacks, using heavy weapons eight times. The situation was the most restless in Popasna district. “Russian proxies fired about 40 mortar rounds in 10 minutes at Novozvanizka after 22:00, followed by an artillery salvo of 15 projectiles rounds. Approximately at the same time occupants were shelling our positions in Troitske with mortars and tanks,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. A hostile provocation involving grenade launchers took place in Malynove at midday. Militants used armored vehicles, small arms and mortars in Krymske, firing over 25 mortar rounds.

Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no losses in combat yesterday, four servicemen were wounded.

Report on the military developments as of May 13 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.