Defense Ministry: Militants use Grad rocket system near Vodiane

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One Ukrainian serviceman was killed and one more wounded in action yesterday.

In the Mariupol sector Russia-backed militants conducted 43 attacks, 8 of which involved heavy weapons. Ninety per cent of attacks took place in southern seaside area. “The situation remains tense near Vodiane. The enemy opened fire from 122 mm artillery there yesterday morning, and fired several shots from Grad-P rocket launcher system. In addition, Russian proxies conducted six mortar attacks in Pavlopil – Shyrokyne frontline area and performed armed provocation using mortars and grenade launchers in Maryinka,” informed the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine spokesman on ATO-related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk during a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

A total of 13 hostile attacks, three of which involved the use of heavy armor, were recorded in the Luhansk sector yesterday. Militants opened brief mortar fire at Krymske, Orikhove and Novozvanivka during the day. Moreover, Russian proxies performed four armed provocations in Novozvanivka and used small arms and grenade launchers near Stanytsia Luhanska and Troitske.

Twenty-eight militants’ attacks of low and medium intensity, nine of which involved heavy armor, were recorded in the Donetsk sector yesterday along the entire contact line, but mainly at Avdiivka and the adjacent areas. Militants opened small arms fire several times and shelled Ukrainian positions with mortars of various calibers in the afternoon. The most intense attack lasted over five hours. “Enemy mortar attack damaged a residential building in Avdiivka. The owner, a 82-year-old woman, sustained no injuries,” elaborated Col. Motuzyanyk.

The enemy attacked Ukrainian positions at the Horlivka perimeter and near Donetsk airport with small arms. Russia-backed militants also used mortars and armor in the Svitlodarsk area, conducted a brief attack with 152-mm artillery in Zaitseve at night, and repeatedly used mortars and armored personnel carriers during the day.

Report on the military developments as of March 22 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.