Kyiv, February 5, 2016. Militants continued shooting at Ukrainian troops’ positions yesterday using various types of weapons, said ATO Staff spokesman, Colonel Andriy Zadubinnyi, via Skype at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. “Militants used grenade launchers, large machine guns and small arms near Donetsk, shooting at our strongholds in Maryinka, Avdiivka, Pisky, Opytne and Butivka coal mine. Insurgents also attacked Krasnohorivka with mortar fire,” said Col. Zadubinnyi. Militant shot at Ukrainian positions in Luhanske at the Svitlodarsk bulge from large machine guns. Moreover, Ukrainian strongholds in Troitske and Verkhniotoretske in the vicinity of Horlivka were assaulted from small arms and grenade launchers. “Russia-backed militants were shooting intensively from 82-mm and 120-mm mortar launchers at our strongholds in Zaitseve and Mayorsk, in addition to using grenade launchers and small arms,” informed the spokesman. Moreover, Ukrainian positions in Talakivka in the Mariupol sector were caught in mortar fire.
In total, Russia-backed militant groups violated the ceasefire 191 times over February 2-4.
“On February 2 on the outskirts of Donetsk militants were shooting from 82-mm mortar launchers at our strongholds in Pisky, Opytne and Avdiivka, apart from grenade launchers and small arms,” said Col. Zadubinnyi. Militant sniper was active in the vicinity of Maryinka. At nighttime militants resume intense attacks on Ukrainian positions in Mayorsk and Zaitseve. “Militants used grenade launchers and 120-mm mortar launchers,” added the spokesman. Insurgents were shooting at Ukrainian strongholds from mortar launchers and large machine guns near Krasnohorivka.
On February 3 Russia-backed militant groups were active along the entire frontline. Insurgents shot at Ukrainian positions in Mayorsk, Novhorodske, Luhanske, Avdiivka, Maryinka, Pisky, Opytne and Butivka coal mine using grenade launchers and large machine guns. Mortar launchers were used to shoot at Ukrainian checkpoints near Kirove and Pervomaiske. “In the Mariupol sector militants shot at Ukrainian strongholds near Hnutove and Lomakine from 82-mm and 120-mm mortar launchers. Moreover, an anti-aircraft mount and anti-tank missile complex were used to attack the positions near Lomakine. Militants shelled our strongholds in Krasnohorivka from 82-mm mortar launchers,” said Col. Zadubinnyi.
According to recent intelligence, handlers from the Russian Federation arrived to the territory of the self-proclaimed “Luhansk People’s Republic” (“LPR”). They were accompanied by a group of officers of Russian General Staff coming to inspect the systems of operational and combat training of Russia-backed militant groups, informed the ATO Staff spokesman. “As a part of inspection, militants shelled positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Triokhizbenka in order to demonstrate their military proficiency. The attack took place from the direction of Krasnyi Lyman using grenade machine guns, large machine guns and 82-mm mortar launchers (60 shells),” elaborated Col. Zadubinnyi. Moreover, 120-mm mortar rounds from the direction of Nikolaevka were recorded in Stanytsia Luhanska.
