Kyiv, February 9, 2016. Pro-Russian militants continue shelling positions of Ukrainian Armed Forces. They concentrated their efforts in three sectors: Horlivka – Zaitseve, Oleksandrivka – Maryinka, Krasnohorivka and Kominternove – Hnutove – Talakivka. “In these sectors there is an active movement of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements such as tanks and120 mm mortars,” said Col. Andriy Zadubinnyi, ATO spokesperson, at Ukraine Crisis Media Center (via Skype).
On February 8, pro-Russian militants did not stop provocation in ATO zone. They fired at Ukrainian positions from grenade launchers and small arms in Opytne, Avdiivka, Luhanske, Troitske, Zaitseve, Mayorsk and Butivka mine. A mortar attack against Ukrainian fortifications was carried out in Pisky, Maryinka, Hnutove, and Troitske on the border between Donetsk and Luhansk regions, said Col. Zadubinnyi. “The enemy used not only grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms but also 82-mm mortars, anti-aircraft installation and IFV near Krasnohorivka,” he noted. In Mariupol sector, militants fired from small arms in Shyrokyne. Totally, militants violated ceasefire 237 times from February 5 to February 8.
On February 5, militant groups of the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic” (“DPR”) shelled Ukrainian positions in Donetsk and Mariupol sectors. “The enemy 14 times opened fire at our strongholds near Krasnohorivka, using grenade launchers and small arms, as well as 82 mm mortars,” said Col. Zadubinnyi. Ukrainian positions in Luhanske, Maryinka, Pisky, Opytne, Novhorodske, Troitske, and Shyrokyne were under fire from grenade launchers of various systems. “In addition, insurgents used antiaircraft installation in Opytne, and IFV in Novhorodske. We recorded application of 82 and 120-mm mortars at our positions in Talakivka, Hnutove, Avdiivka, Zaitseve, Mayorsk and Butivka mine,” noted Col. Zadubinnyi.
“February 6 began with militants bombarding Ukrainian fortifications close to Krasnohorivka from 82 and 120-mm mortars,” he informed. It was traditionally restless in the outskirts of Donetsk. Insurgents fired at Ukrainian strongholds in Avdiyivka, Maryinka, Pisky, Opytne, and Butivka mine from small arms and grenade launchers. “Not far from Horlivka, the enemy used small arms and heavy machine guns against Ukrainian fortifications in Troitske, and rocket launchers and infantry fighting vehicles near Novhorodske. Ukrainian strongholds in Zaitseve and Mayorsk were again subjected to mortar shelling,” said Col. Zadubinnyi.
On February 7, the main hotbeds of tension were near Donetsk and temporarily occupied Horlivka. “Grenade launchers and small arms fired at our positions in Pisky and Opytne. The terrorists 16 times opened fire not far from Maryinka. Here the enemy, except for small arms, used 82 and 120 mm mortars,” specified Col. Zadubinnyi. Also, Ukrainian positions in Troitske, Mayorsk and Krasnohorivka were subjected to mortar shelling. Ukrainian strongholds in the vicinity of Zaitseve, Novhorodske, Myronivka and Starohnativka were under fire of heavy machine guns and small arms.
