Thankfully, Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no casualties in ATO zone yesterday. However, Russia-backed militants were violating the ceasefire in all sectors using heavy weapons.
They conducted 12, eight and 23 attacks in Donetsk, Luhansk and Mariupol sector respectively, reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Colonel Andriy Lysenko at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
In Luhansk sector hostilities continued in the hours of darkness and at dusk. Militants attacked in Stanytsia Luhanska, Slovianoserbsk and Novyi Aidar districts. “Russian proxies were actively using mortars: in total, they fired over 80 rounds at our positions in six incidents yesterday. The most intense attacks took place in Zhovte and Triokhizbenka,” said Col. Lysenko.
In Donetsk sector militants used Minsk-proscribed weapons seven timesl. They conducted the largest number of attacks near Avdiivka. Hostilities in this sector started after 12:00 with a mortar attack. “Later hostile activity increased drastically. In addition to mortars, militants were using tanks,” elaborated Col. Lysenko. Russian proxies were firing from the eastern and the southern directions simultaneously. Moreover, the enemy yet again shelled residential quarters,” said the spokesman. One missile hit a yard of a private house in the old part of Avdiivka, damaging windows, walls and roof of the house. In addition to Avdiivka’s industrial area, militants shelled the adjacent Shakhta Butovka position twice. The situation remains restless near Horlivka. “The enemy shelled about five Ukrainian positions along the entire frontline, including those where the ceasefire traditionally holds. Militants used mortars, armored vehicles and light arms,” informed Col. Lysenko. The armistice held at Svitlodarsk area and in Donetsk airport.
Militants conducted three mortar attacks in Krasnohorivka in Mariupol sector. The second one was the most intense: in about 90 minutes’ time militants fired over 50 mortar rounds. In three provocations in Mariinka Russian proxies employed snipers. The situation remains unchanged in Pavlopil-Shyrokyne frontline, where militants are violating armistice 24/7.
Report on the military developments as of May 16 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
