ATO Staff Spokesperson: Militants violate ceasefire 336 times in the past three days

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Kyiv, August 14, 2015. Tension in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone remained held between August 11 and 13, as Russia-backed militant groups violated ceasefire 336 times, said ATO Staff spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Anatoliy Stelmakh at a press briefing via Skype at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

“On August 13, militants fired at Ukrainian checkpoints in Talakivka, Pavlopil and Starohnativka from Grad multiple rocket launchers (MRLS). Russia-backed fighters also used 152 mm artillery in Starohnativka and Talakivka and attacked Novotroyitske with 120mm mortars twice. Moreover, the militants attacked Avdiivka and Opytne from Grad MRLS, as well as Vodyane, Kamyanka, Novobakhmutivka and Pervomayske with 152mm artillery,” said Lt. Col. Stelmakh.

Yesterday, militant groups were shooting at Ukrainian forces from mortars and 152 mm artillery in the area of Zaytseve, Donetsk region. According to Lt. Col. Stelmakh, the militants were “repeatedly shooting at residential buildings”. They have also targeted Shyrokyne with grenade launchers and heavy machine guns, while salvos from Grad MRLS fell on positions near Avdiivka and Opytne. “Today, on August 14, the militants used the artillery banned by Minsk agreements nine times. Ukrainian positions were under fire from Grad MRLS four times in Vodyane and three times in Opytne. Missile systems were used in Krasnohorivka and Zaytseve,” said Lt. Col. Stelmakh.