Situation in the combat area remains tense. Mariupol sector accounts for the highest number of attacks. Donetsk sector sees highest intensity of mortar attacks, while the use of heavy weapons dramatically increases in Luhansk sector.
Yesterday in Luhansk sector the number heavy weapons attacks drastically increased in Novyi Aidar and Popasna districts. “Russia-backed militants fired over 50 rounds of various calibers. Krymske and Novozvanivka remained traditional hotspots with the highest number of hostile attacks,” reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Colonel Andriy Lysenko at a press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. In addition to that Russian proxies violated ceasefire near Stanytsia Luhanska. A total of 18 attacks were recorded in Luhansk sector yesterday, 13 of them involved heavy weapons.
In Donetsk sector the situation escalated as well, militants conducted a total of 15 hostile attacks, 12 of which involved heavy weapons. “Yesterday active combat actions continued at Svitlodarsk area, in Zaitseve and Avdiivka. Intensity of mortar attacks was several times higher than in Luhansk sector. Militants fired about 180 rounds,” said ATO spokesperson. Militants’ attacks on Avdiivka cut Donetsk water filtration station off the power yet again. [The station is located in the “grey” area and supplies water to government-controlled Avdiivka, and militant-controlled Yasynuvata and part of Donetsk.] Russian proxies also made a number of attacks near Donetsk airport.
In Mariupol sector Russia-backed militants violated the ceasefire 30 times, mostly in the evening. The southern part of the area near frontline accounts for the highest number of attacks. Russian proxies used heavy weapons in Krasnohorivka, Slavne, Hnutove and Vodiane, firing about 25 rounds.
One Ukrainian serviceman was killed and seven were wounded in action. “Ukrainian troops incurred biggest losses in Avdiivka, where one serviceman was killed and three were wounded in action,” Colonel Lysenko added.
ATO spokesperson also informed that SBU discovered in Shyrokyne two Russian-produced MON-50 antipersonnel mines. According to the experts the ammunition was produced in Russia in 1997.
Report on the military developments as of May 2 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
