Ministry of Defense: Intensity of Russia-backed militants’ attacks decreases by half

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Militants use “Grad-P” portable rocket launchers in Mariupol sector. Other ceasefire violations involving heavy weapons take place in Novooleksandrivka (Luhansk sector), Avdiivka and Zaytseve (Donetsk sector).

Intensity of Russia-backed militants’ attacks decreased almost by 50 per cent over the last 24 hours, reported Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesperson on ATO, at a press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Militants were sporadically using mortars. Moreover, they used “Grad-P” portable rocket launchers in Mariupol sector. In total, Russia-backed militants violated the ceasefire 37 times yesterday, having used heavy weapons in 12 incidents.

The situation was the tensest in Mariupol sector. “Militants attacked Shyrokyne with ‘Grad-P’ portable rocket launchers four times, firing almost 20 rounds, and used mortars and mounted weapons of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles there as well,” elaborated the spokesman. Russian proxies conducted one mortar attack in Krasnohorivka. In Pavlopil, Hnutove and Vodiane they used light arms.

Popasna area was the main hotspot in Luhansk sector. “Militants performed two armed provocations in Novooleksandrivka, one of them involved mortars. Two attacks took place in Novozvanivka, one in Valuiske and one more in Krymske,” said Col. Motuzyanyk.

The majority of militants’ attacks in Donetsk sector took place near Zaytseve and Avdiivka. “Russia-backed militants undertook a number of low-intensity mortar attacks there, accompanied by grenade launchers and small arms,” reported the spokesman. Militants’ armed provocations in Troitske, Novhorodske and Pisky involved light arms only.

Ukrainian troops incurred no lethal casualties yesterday, yet one serviceman was wounded.

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