Andriy Lysenko: Relative calm and stability in ATO area, no heavy weapons used

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Kyiv, September 4, 2015. Situation in eastern Ukraine remains relatively stable. Five militant provocations occurred yesterday. “Heavy weapons were not used in these incidents,” said Colonel Andriy Lysenko, spokesperson of Administration of the President of Ukraine on ATO-related issues, at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In the Luhansk sector, Russia-backed militants instigated an armed provocation near Krymske village. The militants were firing from a grenade launcher for a half of an hour.

In the Donetsk sector, combat actions were conducted only in the area of the Donetsk airport. “The militants fired three times upon Ukrainian positions West and South of Avdiivka using small arms and grenade launchers. They have also fired several shots from a 82 mm mortar,” said Col. Lysenko.

One Ukrainian serviceman was killed in action over last day having tripped an improvized explosive device.

Ukraine’s Security Service neutralized a group of four that was plotting terrorist acts in Kyiv. According to Col. Lysenko, the perpetrators were detained near the collection point for volunteer aid to Ukrainian servicemen. During the capture, the suspects blew an RGD-5 grenade. “The perpetrators turned to be members of one of the Russia-backed organizations. Their leader was a native of Sakhalin Island, Russia. He was supposed to leave immediately to Crimea after the attack,” explained Col. Lysenko.

Col. Lysenko also reported that Ukrainian law enforcement and border guards bypassing the customs checkpoint in Kharkiv region that transported microchips used in aerospace industry to Russia.