Russia-backed militants used 122-mm artillery and 120-mm mortars, as well as IFVs and small arms in the ATO zone yesterday. In total, they violated the ceasefire 17 times, including 16 direct fire attacks. Ukrainian troops responded with fire in 13 cases. “When militants’ attacks pose a direct threat to lives of our servicemen, field commanders order to return fire using weapons not proscribed under the Minsk agreements,” explained Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Andriy Lysenko at a press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
In Luhansk sector, the enemy shelled Ukrainian positions near Kriakivka and Orikhove firing four and five 120-mm mortar rounds respectively. “The enemy used automatic grenade launchers twice near Krymske. In the majority of cases Ukrainian troops refrained from firing in response,” Col. Lysenko noted.
In Donetsk sector, militants committed seven ceasefire violations. “Russian proxies attacked Ukrainian positions with IFV mounted weapons, grenade launchers, small arms, and heavy machine guns. Two of the attacks took place in Avdiivka area, others were recorded in Kamianka, Opytne, Pisky, Zaitseve, and Luhanske,” reported Col. Lysenko. Ukrainian troops responded to the majority of militants’ attacks with fire.
In Mariupol sector, Russian proxies violated the ceasefire six times. Between 16:00 and 18:00, they fired twenty-two 122-mm artillery rounds and sixteen 120-mm mortar rounds in Shyrokyne area. “In addition, militants twice used grenade launchers, small arms, and heavy machine guns near Starohnativka, Shyrokyne, and Talakivka. Moreover, in Talakivka they used IFVs,” added the spokesman.
One Ukrainian serviceman was killed in action yesterday near Opytne, and five troops were wounded at Kamianka, Opytne, and Shyrokyne.
Report on the military developments as of October 31 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
