Ministry of Defense: Russia-backed militants shell residential areas of Troitske with 152-mm artillery

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Over the past day, Russia-backed militants made 55 precision attacks on Ukrainian troops’ positions having fired a total of 80 rounds from 82-mm and 120-mm mortars. “Late in the evening, they shelled the civilian infrastructure of Troitske with fifteen 152-mm artillery rounds. There were no civilian casualties,” reported Ministry of Defense spokesman Colonel Dmytro Hutsulyak at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In Luhansk sector, Russian proxies made seven precision attacks. “Starting about 18:00, Russia-backed militants delivered an hour-long attack near Svitlodarsk using 120-mm mortars. They fired several more rounds at Ukrainian troops defending Troitske around midnight,” the Ministry of Defense spokesperson said. Militants used 82-mm mortars near Svitlodarsk and Luhanske. They were also using IFV weapons, grenade launchers and small arms. After 21:00 a militants’ sniper was active outside Stanytsia Luhanska.

In Donetsk sector, Ukrainian troops recorded 45 precision attacks. Russia-backed militants were using 82-mm and 120-mm mortars in Lebedynske, Starohnativka, Avdiivka, Nevelske, and Shakhta Butovka areas. Militants made attacks from grenade launchers, IFV mounted weapons, small arms, and heavy machine guns near Maryinka, Lebedynske, Shyrokyne,Hranitne , Hnutove, Avdiivka, Verkhniotoretske, Starohnativka, Opytne, Slavne, Nevelske, Vodiane, Kamianka, Pishchevyk, Krasnohorivka, Talakivka and Shakhta Butovka.

“Ukrainian troops returned fire 28 times over the last day. Two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in action,” Colonel Hutsulyak said.

As of 09:00 of May 2, Russian proxies have already made ten precision attacks. In Luhansk sector, Russian proxies used 120-mm mortars three times near Troitske as well as 82-mm mortars twice outside Svitlodarsk having fired a total of 60 rounds.  In addition, militants used heavy machine guns near Zaitseve. Moreover, a hostile sniper was spotted near Troitske.

In Donetsk sector Russia-backed militants twice attacked Ukrainian troops’ positions in Vodiane area with small arms and used grenade launchers and heavy machine guns near Maryinka.

Report on the military developments as of May 1 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.