22 militants’ attacks took place in the Donetsk sector yesterday. Insurgents use almost all available weapons: small arms, sniping weapons, grenade launchers of various systems, armor and a mortar launcher. Russian center of informational confrontation continues spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda.
Kyiv, August 23, 2016. A firefight between ATO troops and Russia-backed militant groups took place in the Avdiivka industrial area yesterday. “At approximately 5:00 a.m., the adversaries crossed the demarcation line and moved towards our defense lines. The enemy started building a position 80 meters from ours. Our troops promptly set out and accepted the fight, which lasted 40 hours. As a result, ATO troops killed three occupants and captured a 12.7 mm machine gun. Ukrainian troops incurred no losses,” informed the spokesman of the Presidential Administration on ATO related issues, Colonel Andriy Lysenko, at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
The situation was restless in Kamianka and Novoselivka Druha. In total, one firefight and 22 militants’ attacks took place in the Donetsk sector yesterday. 14 involved use of heavy armor.
Additionally, the situation also escalated in the Luhansk sector. “The armistice held till 5:00 p.m., but then intense hostile attacks started. Occupants were shooting for three hours in Stanytsia Luhanska right after sunset. The enemy used almost all the available weapons – small arms, namely sniping weapons, grenade launchers of various systems, armor and a mortar launcher,” said Col. Lysenko. Moreover, militants violated the ceasefire in Lopaskyne, Krymske and Zolote. Trypillia village, which is located 15 km from the frontline, came under artillery fire of Russia-backed militant groups (152-mm cannons).
Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no losses in combat yesterday, and eight troops were wounded.
Major hostilities in the Mariupol sector take place in the far north and south – Krasnohorivka-Mariinka and Shyrokyne correspondingly. “Occupants launched over 130 82-mm and 120-mm mortar shells at our positions in these areas,” elaborated the spokesman. Moreover, militants conducted several attacks in Novotroitske, Hranitne, Vodiane and Hnutove. The armistice held in the other sectors. Col. Lysenko also said that militants mostly attacked during the day, using heavy armor in particular. In total, 22 militants’ attacks took place in the Mariupol sector yesterday, 10 of which involved the use of heavy armor.
Col. Lysenko added that the center of informational confrontation located in Novocherkask and responsible for anti-Ukrainian propaganda in Donbas, invented new provocations against Ukrainian troops. “This structure plans to circulate official communications regarding ATO troops’ intention to use combat unmanned aerial vehicles to hit important industrial objects on the occupied territories,” explained the spokesman.
