Ministry of Defense: Russian proxies further intensify hostilities in eastern Ukraine

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Russia-backed militants committed nine ceasefire violations in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine yesterday. Some of the attacks involved 120-mm and 82-mm mortars. Ukrainian servicemen returned fire once, reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Colonel Maksym Prauta at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In Luhansk sector, militants delivered four direct fire attacks on Ukrainian positions. “They fired a total of ten 120-mm and 82-mm mortar rounds near Luhanske,” noted the spokesman. In Novoluhanske and Novozvanivka areas militants used grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, and small arms.

In Donetsk sector, Russian proxies committed five ceasefire violations, using mortars in three of them. They fired eleven 120-mm and 82-mm mortar rounds on Ukrainian positions near Shyrokyne, and twelve 120-mm mortar rounds in Lebedynske area, in addition to small arms fire. Moreover, militants fired nine 82-mm mortar rounds near Hnutove. “Finally, our servicemen in Pisky area came under fire of hostile grenade launchers,” added Col. Prauta. Ukrainian servicemen did not return fire.

Unfortunately, one Ukrainian serviceman was killed yesterday and two more wounded during the demining action. Moreover, two servicemen were wounded in action near Novozvanivka and Pisky.

Report on the military developments as of January 11 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.