Kyiv, February 9, 2015 – Ukrainian servicemen are successfully repelling attacks of the Russian-backed militants, eliminating their military equipment and manpower. “Over the last day the ATO forces eliminated over 200 militants and destroyed 15 units of military equipment,” said Anatoliy Stelmakh, ATO spokesman, via Skype at a briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
The night from 8 to 9 February in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone was relatively calm. It was noted that Ukrainian positions were fired upon 13 times. “However, in contrast with the recent weeks terrorists did not fire at peaceful localities on Debaltseve and Mariupol directions,” said ATO spokesman. Nevertheless, militants intensify their activities at the Luhansk direction. Last night Tryokhizbenka, Novotoshkivske, Vilkhove and Stanytsia Luhanska in Luhansk region suffered artillery strikes.
At the Donetsk direction, illegal armed groups fired at Petrivske, Tonenke and Avdiivka. “The number of flights enemy’s UAVs over the last day has increased,” said Anatoliy Stelmakh. The enemy is conducting aerial reconnaissance mainly at the Luhansk and Mariupol directions.
Pro-Russian militants fired at the ATO forces 100 times in the last 24 hours. “Nine Ukrainian servicemen were killed in action and 26 were wounded over the last day,” added Vladyslav Seleznyov, acting spokesman for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.