Kyiv, February 18, 2015. Ukrainian Armed Forces are conducting planned organized withdrawal of its regiments from Debaltseve. “80% of Ukrainian troops have been withdrawn from the sector. Two more military convoys are expected to retreat in the nearest time,” said Colonel Andriy Lysenko, ATO spokesman, at a briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Russian-backed militants shelled and tried to assault Ukrainian positions near Shyrokyne. Ukrainian soldiers repelled the attack. Also, militants fired numerous times at the Ukrainian military positions near Opytne, Pisky, Vodyane and Avdiivka, using multiple rocket launchers, mortars, artillery and small arms.
In Luhansk region near Mius village, insurgents fired from mortars at the Ukrainian blockpost, attempting to storm it. Militants also used anti-tank missiles in their attacks on the Ukrainian Armed Forces based near Stary Aidar.
Militants are actively conducting aerial reconnaissance using UAVs. “Ukrainian soldiers spotted 22 UAVs were at the Luhansk, Donetsk, Mariupol and Kramatorsk fronts in the last 24 hours,” said Colonel Lysenko.