The lowest number of militant attacks was registered on September 28, yet 24 incidents of gunfire registered and one shelling using mortars banned by Minsk accords.
”Over the last week, the number of ceasefire violations committed by Russia-backed militants increased in comparison to the previous week,” said Vilyen Pidgornyy, Ministry of Defense Spokesperson at a press-briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center. The lowest number of militant attacks was registered on September 28. There were 24 incidents of gunfire and one shelling using mortars banned by Minsk accords. Yet, in the last two days, the number of shelling increased dramatically.
The militants continued violating ceasefire in two other areas set for disengagement – Stanytsia Luhanska in the Luhansk sector and Petrivske village in the Mariupol sector. Petrivske is controlled by Russia-backed militants who obstruct the work of the international observers. “According to the latest data from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, the monitors could not reach Petrivske on October 3, as the militants refused to de-mine the surrounding territories,” noted the MoD Spokesperson.
On October 2, Russia-backed militants fired over 200 shells from heavy mortars along the frontline, as well as employed artillery and tanks in major flashpoints along the contact line, namely near Zaitseve and Avdiivka in the Donetsk sector. “Yesterday, Russian proxies violated ceasefire 48 times, which presents an uptick of violence compared to the previous week’s numbers,” stressed Mr Pidgornyy.
Last week, two Ukrainian servicemen were killed in action and 12 were wounded. “Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the fallen Ukrainian heroes”.
The vast majority of ceasefire violations took place in the following areas: Stanytsia Luhanska, Novozvanivka and Novooleksandrivka villages in the Luhansk sector; Perimeter of Horlivka, including major flashpoints of Zaitseve, Novhorodske and Verkhnyotoretske, and Avdiivka and in the Donetsk sector, towns and villages on the frontline in the Mariupol sector, such as Shyrokyne village, Maryinka, Starohnativka, Pavlopil and Hnutove.
According to Mr Pidgornyy, Russia-backed militants organized so-called “primaries” on October 2 on the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russia-backed militants attempted to derail the peace process in eastern Ukraine by imitating the local elections outlined in the Article 12 of Minsk agreements. This contradicts the Ukrainian legislation; the process was not observed by authorized international monitors; the so-called “primaries” violated the fundamental principles of free expression of popular will. Therefore, the results of Russia-backed occupation administration actions are illegitimate.
