Kyiv, March 20, 2015 – Russia-backed militants have blatantly violated Minsk agreements over the night of March 19-20. They have attacked the Ukrainian positions with the heavy weapons that were supposed to be withdrawn from contact line in the beginning of March at the 25 km distance, stated Anatoliy Stelmakh, ATO Staff spokesman, via Skype at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
“The enemy fired at the Ukrainian positions at the Donetsk direction with 120-mm mortars in the area of Krasnohorivka and Pisky. Militant groups have intensified their attacks at the Luhansk direction as well. The militants used “Grad” multiple rocket launcher to fire at the Ukrainian forces near Sokilnyky at 9:35 pm. They also fired at Stanytsia Luhanska and Sokilnyky from small arms and grenade launchers. The Ukrainian military blockpost near Donetske came under 120-mm mortar fire at 9:45 pm,” Anatoliy Stelmakh noted.
He also noted said that the militants attacked the town of Shyrokyne in the Mariupol sector three times using small arms and grenade launchers. No armed provocations were recorded in the Artemivsk sector.
Overall, the militants attacked the Ukrainian forces ten times from 8 pm until midnight. No ceasefire violations were recorded between the midnight and 7 am on March 20.