Two Ukrainian troops were killed in action, and eight were wounded.
Militants’ activity in the Donetsk sector does not decrease along the entire frontline. They are using tanks, cannons, mortar launchers and snipers 24/7. The situation remains the most difficult in the vicinity of Avdiivka and the adjacent positions. Militants became more active in the afternoon trying to hit Ukrainian troops from several directions at the same time, using hevy armor for this purpose. “Militants organize one of the firing positions in the school in Spartak village. The enemy spares no ammunition: only near Avdiivka, Kamianka and Butovka coal mine position militants launched over 150 projectiles,” said the spokesman of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on ATO related issues Colonel Andriy Lysenko at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Shells fired by insurgents exploded in the old part of Avdiivka in the evening. One projectile hit a private residential house. Power and heat supply in the town resumed. “Moreover, hostilities continue in other areas – at the Svitlodarsk bulge, near Horlivka and in the Donetsk airport,” added Col. Lysenko. In total, militants conducted 32 attacks in the Donetsk sector yesterday, and 17 of them involve use of heavy armor.
In the Luhansk sector militants conducted brief but very intense shooting attacks from heavy armor in Novyi Aidar and Popasna areas yesterday. Lobacheve, Krymske, Novooleksandrivka, Novozvanivka and Troitske came under militants’ cannon and mortar fire. Militants launched 20 artillery projectiles and almost 50 mortar shells. It mostly happened during the hours of darkness. Insurgents periodically engaged grenade launchers and armor in this area. “A teenager was wounded in a hostile shelling in Valuiske village in Stanytsia Luhanska district yesterday,” emphasized Col. Lysenko. In total, 12 militants’ attacks took place in the Luhansk sector yesterday, and seven of them involved use of heavy armor.
In the Mariupol sector the situation drastically escalated near Novotroitske yesterday morning. A large firefight continued 2.5 hours there. “The adversary used artillery, mortar launchers, armor and snipers there. About 70 projectiles and mortar shells were launched at our positions. Moreover, hostile mortar attacks took place in Starohnativka, Hnutove and Vodiane,” said the spokesman. Militants continue firing from light weapons along the entire frontline from Krasnohorivka to Shyrokyne. In total, militants attacked 33 times in the Mariupol sector yesterday, using heavy armor seven times.
Two Ukrainian troops were killed in action, and eight were wounded. “Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred the biggest losses during an intense mortar attack militants conducted in Lobacheve. Two troops were KIA and six were wounded. Two more Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in Avdiivka, one of them female,” elaborated Col. Lysenko.
Report on the military developments as of March 16 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
