Ministry of Defense: Russia-backed militants make 64 attacks, use tanks and mortars

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Over the last day Russia-backed militants considerably stepped up their activities in the combat zone in eastern Ukraine: they attacked Ukrainian troops’ positions 64 times, 61 of the incidents were precision attacks. “Militants fired at Ukrainian strongholds over 60 rounds from tank cannons as well as over hundred 82-mm and 120-mm mortar rounds,” reported Ministry of Defense spokesman Colonel Dmytro Hutsulyak at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In Luhansk sector, Russian proxies made four precision attacks on Ukrainian troops’ positions. Starting around 19:00, militants attacked Ukrainian troops’ positions near Novooleksandrivka three times using grenade launchers and heavy machine guns and having fired fifteen 82-mm mortar rounds as well as used. After 20:20,  militants attacked Ukrainian troops’ positions near Luhanske with IFV mounted weapons.

In Donetsk sector, militants made 60 attacks, 57 of which were precision ones. They used tanks near Pisky, Vodiane, and Kamianka, having discharged a total of 60 cannon rounds. Militants also fired about one hundred 82-mm and 120-mm mortar rounds in Shyrokyne, Lebedynske, Pisky, Vodiane, Kamianka, Berdianske, Avdiivka, Talakivka, and Shakhta Butovka areas. “In the above locations as well as near Opytne, Novotroitske, Krasnohorivka, and Hnutove militants conducted harassing fire using grenade launchers and heavy machine guns. A hostile sniper was spotted near Vodiane,” the Ministry of Defense spokesperson added.

Ukrainian troops returned fire 19 times over the last day using the weapons not proscribed under the Minsk agreements. Unfortunately, four Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in action, one more serviceman was injured.

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