Conflict chronology, August 3-9, 2017: Militants use Grad MLRS and stage Ukrainian troops’ attack

No Ukrainian serviceman was killed or wounded in action on August 3 in the ATO zone. Russia-backed militants violated the ceasefire 21 times. In Luhansk sector militants used grenade launchers, mortars, and light weapons, mostly near Popasna and along Bakhmut road. In Donetsk sector, militants attacked Shakhta Butovka with APC weapons, large-caliber machine guns, and grenade launchers. The enemy used various grenade launchers in Avdiivka. In Mariupol sector, Russian proxies were attacking Vodiane with machine guns and small arms, and Pavlopil with grenade launchers.

The situation escalated on August 4 when militants shelled Ukrainian troops’ positions 38 times. Three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded. In Luhansk sector, militants attacked Novooleksandrivka with light weapons and used mortars twice near Stanytsia Luhanska. The attacks were the most intense in Donetsk sector. Militants used APC weapons, mounted anti-tank grenade launchers, mortars, and machine guns. In Mariupol sector, militants attacked Chermalyk, Lebedynske, Vodiane and Shyrokyne.

On August 5 militants violated the ceasefire 31 times in total. Three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded. In Luhansk sector, the enemy attacked Popasna with grenade launchers and used small arms in Novooleksandrivka, Novozvanivka, and Zhovte. Militants attacked Ukrainian positions near Zholobok with grenade launchers and mortars. In Donetsk sector, the enemies were shelling Ukrainian positions near Avdiivka virtually 24/7 using heavy weapons, 82-mm mortars in particular. Militants used mortars and light weapons in Opytne and Novoselivka Druha, and conducted three attacks with grenade launchers and small arms in Svitlodarsk area. In Mariupol sector, militants used light weapons in Vodiane, Shyrokyne, Starohnativka, and Novoselivka Druha.

August 6 was much calmer. Russia-backed militant groups attacked Ukrainian positions 18 times and repeatedly used mortars at the seaside of the Azov Sea. They shelled Shyrokyne with Grad MLRS, and used sniper weapons and automatic grenade launchers in Novotroitske. In Luhansk sector, militants violated the ceasefire near Bakhmut road and Popasna. In Donetsk sector, hostilities took place in Avdiivka and Pisky. The enemy used armor and light weapons. Three Ukrainian troops were wounded that day.

Eight hostile attacks were recorded on August 7 in Luhansk sector. Militants were using mortars, grenade launchers and small arms, mostly at Bakhmut road, Krymske, Triokhizbenka, and Novotoshkivske. In Donetsk sector, they attacked Nevelske with light weapons and used grenade launchers, machine guns and mortars in Avdiivka and Shakhta Butovka. In Mariupol sector, militants used mortars and grenade launchers near Maryinka and Dokuchaevsk, machine guns near Starohnativka, and mortars in Shyrokyne. One Ukrainian soldier was killed in action in Mariupol sector, and two were wounded.

Three Ukrainian troops were killed in action in the east of Ukraine on August 8 and nine were wounded. In Donetsk sector, militants opened mortar fire in Kamianka-Avdiivka-Shakhta Butovka frontline. The enemy fired 125 mortar rounds here. In Luhansk sector, most attacks took place near Troitske and Novotoshkivske. Militants were using grenade launchers, machine guns, mortars, and APC weapons. In Mariupol sector, militants shelled Ukrainian positions near Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, Talakivka, Shyrokyne, and Chermalyk with mortars and APC weapons. Russian proxies used light weapons in Pavlopil-Shyrokyne frontline.

Pro-Russian militants conducted seven attacks at Ukrainian troops’ positions in the evening of August 9 using heavy weapons in the south of Mariupol sector. They fired over 60 mortar rounds and 40 Grad-P missiles. In Luhansk sector, militants violated the ceasefire near Popasna and Novotoshkivske seven times using armor and mortars. In Donetsk sector, militants attacked Avdiivka and Shakhta Butovka with light weapons and mortars. Militants blasted an engineering explosive items near Donetsk filtering station when OSCE monitors were around, in order to stage Ukrainian troops’ attacks. One Ukrainian serviceman was wounded that day.

The previous part of conflict chronology (July 27- August 2) is available here.

Report on the military developments as of the previous week is available here, as of  August 10 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.