Ministry of Defense: Ukrainian troops record 73 hostile attacks, militants keep using artillery

“Russian proxies delivered a total of 73 attacks over the last day. The enemy fired over 150 rounds from 82-mm and 120-mm mortars and made 17 shots from 122-mm artillery. Ukrainian troops returned fire 33 times,” reported Ministry of Defense spokesman Colonel Dmytro Hutsulyak at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In Luhansk sector, Russian proxies opened precision 16 times. “The tensest situation was observed in Zaitseve and Novoluhanske areas, where militants were actively using mortars,  small arms, and IFV mounted weapons,” Colonel Hutsulyak noted. Ukrainian troops’ positions near Katerynivka, Krymske, Maiorske, Novozvanivka, and Troitske came under hostile fire as well. Militants fired a total of over 100 mortar rounds in the sector.

In Donetsk sector, Russian proxies violated the ceasefire 57 times using mostly small arms, heavy machine guns, and grenade launchers. “The enemy opened fire at Ukrainian troops near Avdiivka, Vodiane, Verkhniotoretske, Bohdanivka, Hnutove, Kamianka, Krasnohorivka, Maryinka, Nevelske, Novohnativka, Novotroitske, Opytne, Pavlopil, Pisky, Pishchevyk, Starohnativka, Shyrokyne, and Shakhta Butovka. Moreover, militants used cannons and mortars in 11 incidents,” the Ministry of Defense spokesperson added. Russian proxies fired seventeen 122-mm artillery rounds outside Starohnativka and Novohnativka. Militants also opened precision fire at the Joint Forces near Avdiivka, Bohdanivka, Verkhniotoretske, Novotroitske, Opytne, and Pisky. They fired over 50 mortar rounds towards the Ukrainian troops.

Unfortunately, one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and five more troops were wounded in action yesterday. One more Ukrainian soldier received a combat injury.

As of the morning of May 10, Ukrainian troops recorded 14 hostile attacks in eastern Ukraine. “Militants shelled the Ukrainian positions outside Artemove, Zaitseve, and Prychepylivka in Luhansk sector with 82-mm and 120-mm mortars. They fired a total of 40 rounds,” Colonel Hutsulyak said.

Russian proxies violated the ceasefire in Donetsk sector as well. They attacked Ukrainian troops in Avdiivka, Vodiane, Krasnohorivka, Opytne, Shyrokyne, Shakhta Butovka, and Novozvanivka areas with small arms and grenade launchers. Ukrainian troops returned fire six times. No casualties were reported at that point.

Report on the military developments as of May 9 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.