Colonel Lysenko: Militants massively use mortar launchers and artillery in Mariupol sector

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Militants use armored personnel carriers in Luhanske and mortar launchers in Zaitseve and Avdiivka. The biggest number of attacks took place in the Avdiivka industrial area.

Two thirds of all attacks delivered by Russia-backed militants took place in the Mariupol sector. In total, militants made 25 attacks there, ten of them involved use of heavy armament. “The adversary is massively using mortar launchers and cannons in Hnutove-Shyrokyne frontline area. Over 70 missiles from hostile heavy armor were launched at our positions yesterday. Nevertheless, the most intense mortar attacks took place in Krasnohorivka,” informed Colonel Andriy Lysenko, spokesman of the Ministry of Defense on ATO related issues at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Ukrainian troops responded with fire.

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Militants conducted eight attacks in the Donetsk sector, and two of them involved use of heavy armament. “For instance, enemies used armored personnel carriers in Luhanske and mortar launchers in Zaitseve and Avdiivka,” said Col. Lysenko. The biggest number of attacks took place in the Avdiivka industrial area, and militants violated ceasefire near Horlivka and in Opytne.

Militants shelled Ukrainian troops’ positions in the Luhansk sector five times. “Hostilities continued in Lopaskyne, Krymske and in Popasna district. It was near Popasna that occupants used mortar launchers twice,” said Col. Lysenko.

The spokesman also said that Ukrainian Armed Forced incurred no losses in combat and five troops were wounded.

Officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) detained two people at a checkpoint in Mariupol. They were trying to smuggle five grenades, TNT and four thousand cartridges of various calibers. “Police officers seized more than a kilogram of TNT. Four TNT blocks were found during inspection of the vehicle passenger compartment in a bag between the driver’s personal belongings,” elaborated Col. Lysenko. Moreover, SBU officers rendered safe an improvised explosive device planted in the road near Nevelske in Yasynuvata district, Donetsk region. “Investigative activities are in progress,” added the spokesman.