Ministry of Defense: Militants use mortars, artillery, tanks and Grad-P near Krasnohorivka, kill four Ukrainian troops

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“Today, July 20, after 4:00, Russian proxies opened intense fire from mortars, 122-mm barrel artillery, tanks and Grad-P rocket launchers near Krasnohorivka. Ukrainian troops incurred heavy losses: four servicemen were killed and two wounded,” reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Colonel Andriy Lysenko at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

Another Ukrainian serviceman was killed in militants’ attack on Novhorodske in Donetsk sector.  “As of 11:00 of July 20, 2017, a total of 14 hostile attacks were recorded in ATO zone. Eight attacks involved heavy weapons,” said Col. Lysenko.

Yesterday, July 19, in Luhansk sector hostilities continued near Novozvanivka yesterday.  “Russia-backed militants conducted five armed provocations near the town using machine guns, grenade launchers and APC weapons between 19:00 and 24:00,” said Col. Lysenko. Another attack took place in Stanytsia Luhanska. In total, militants committed six ceasefire violations.

In Donetsk sector militants shelled Avdiivka around 01:00. After that, the whole frontline in Donetsk sector went calm. Attacks resumed at 19:00. Russian proxies attacked Luhanske with APCs, Avdiivka with grenade launchers and Pisky with mortars.  Ukrainian troops returned fire. Militants conducted six attacks in this sector using mortars in two incidents.

In Mariupol sector militants conducted nine attacks, using heavy weapons in two of them. They fired over 20 mortar rounds at Krasnohorivka.  Another mortar attack was recorded in Hnutove.  “Militants attacked with light weapons at Maryinka, Novotroitske, Pavlopil and Vodiane,” emphasized the spokesman.

“One Ukrainian serviceman was killed in a hostile attack in Maryinka. Moreover, Ukrainian unit tripped an explosive device in Novotoshkivske. Three troops were killed and three were wounded,” added the spokesman.

Report on the military developments as of July 19 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.