Over the week number of hostile attacks slightly decreased, new batch humanitarian assistance arrives to the occupied territories from Ukraine, while military supplies arrive to the same destination from Russia.
The number of ceasefire violations was between 70 on December 10 at the highest point and 15 on December 8 at the lowest. The decrease of military activities is most likely connected to the meeting of Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk on December 7. However, once negotiations had finished without feasible results, Russia-backed militants ramped up ceasefire violations yet again.
Mariupol sector
Hostile shelling from 82 and 120 mm mortars, 122 mm and 152 mm artillery as well as tank fire were registered in the Mariupol sector. The enemy uses artillery in combination with reconnaissance devices, particularly the drones, to improve the accuracy of shelling. “This tactic led to the increase of shelling in the area of Krasnohorivka, Vodiane and Shyrokyne. Other flashpoints in the sector included Maryinka, Talakivka, Lededynske and Pavlopil”, said Vilyen Pidgornyy, Ministry of Defense spokesperson at a press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Donetsk sector
According to the spokesperson, Russia-backed militants violated ceasefire in the Donetsk sector primarily in the area of the Donetsk airport, including Avdiivka, Opytne and Pisky, as well as Luhanske village and on the Horlivka perimeter.
Luhansk sector
In the Luhansk sector, tensions persisted across the whole sector. “Ceasefire violations were registered in every frontline area of the sector, namely: Popasna district, Krymske and Stanytsia Luhanska areas,” said Mr Pidgornyy.
Over the week, Ukrainian troops have registered eight episodes of hostile drones conducting aerial reconnaissance.
Military assistance of Moscow
Ukraine’s military intelligence reports of the ongoing military assistance of Moscow to the militants. Russia continues using railroads to deliver arms and supplies to occupied Ukrainian territories. The bulk of it arrives to Ilovaisk and Yasynuvata in the Donetsk region and Rovenky in the Luhansk region. “Over the last week, the militants received four tanks, two Grad multiple rocket launcher systems, a batch of machine guns and sniper rifles, as well as 1,150 tons of fuel and 360 tons of ammunition. Most of supplies arrived to Yasynuvata train station located in close proximity to the frontline next to the major flashpoint of the conflict – Avdiivka,” Mr Pidgornyy stated.
Casualties
Last week, four Ukrainian servicemen were killed in action and 17 servicemen were wounded in action and one serviceman suffered concussion. The number of wounded includes two troopers who suffered injuries as a result of booby trap explosions.
Damage to the civilian infrastructure
As Vilyen Pidgornyy said, two civilians were injured in the Donetsk region. One young volunteer, born in 1995, was wounded during a hostile attack in the area of Shyrokyne. Another victim was a woman injured as a result of militant artillery shelling of Verkhnyotoretske. Two private residencies were damaged in Avdiivka in the aftermath of militant attacks last week.
Humanitarian aid
Ukrainian authorities arranged for access and safe passage through government checkpoints on the contact line of 104 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid for civilians living on the occupied areas in eastern Ukraine. “The total payload of aid exceeds 1,572 tons. It includes food and medication, as well as electric supplies. Humanitarian assistance was provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross as well as Ukrainian charity organizations,” stated the spokesperson.
Report on the military developments as of the previous week is available here, as of December 11 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
