Militants increased their combat activity along the entire frontline. A foreign journalist sustained injury on the face as a result of a shooting attack.
Militants increased their combat activity along the entire frontline. They brought up additional artillery reserves which resulted in increased number of attacks from cannons and Grad multiple rocket launcher systems. Three Ukrainian troops and one rescuer of the State Emergency Service (SES) died in combat; 18 troops and one SES rescuer were wounded. “Two combat medics died at the Svitlodarsk bulge. One SES rescuer and one serviceman died in Avdiivka. Three troops were wounded in Novooleksandrivka, Zaitseve and Mariinka. Two soldiers were wounded in Novozvanivka. Six troops sustained injuries at the Svitlodarsk bulge, and seven troops and SES officer were wounded in Avdiivka. […] There are civilian casualties: one local inhabitant died and one was wounded. Moreover, a foreign journalist sustained injury on the face as a result of a shooting attack,” said the spokesman of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on ATO related issues Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Frontline fighting in the vicinity of Avdiivka continued non-stop yesterday. Militants are massively using mortars, cannons and Grad multiple rocket launchers. The number of projectiles launched from heavy weapons at Avdiivka and Ukrainian flank positions reached 2000. Yesterday around 10 p.m. militants conducted an atrocious attack at Avdiivka, hitting a school stadium with a tent camp and a warming center with aimed fire. “This object is situated 5 km from the frontline, on the western outskirts of the town. This blatant violation of the laws and customs of war, or military crime in other words, also resulted in casualties,” said the spokesman.
Militants continue attacking Butovka coal mine position, Opytne and Pisky. “Spartak and Donetsk airport are swarming with hostile mortar crews, cannons, tanks and Grad MRLS that are taking turns to shell Ukrainian troops day and night. Our soldiers respond with fire,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. Militants are active at the Svitlodarsk bulge and near Horlivka where their artillery is deployed.
The number of Russian proxies’ attacks increased drastically from 35 to 72 incidents in the Mariupol sector. “The enemy launched full service charge from Grad MRLS at Starohnativka and Novohryhorivka. Occupants organized intense artillery attacks in Hranitne, Chermalyk and Hnutove, and were shooting from Grad-P MRLS in Shyrokyne. Moreover, Russia-backed militant troops are massively using mortar launchers, armor and light weapons,” said the spokesman.
Militants continue shelling towns in Mariinka district. A woman sustained shrapnel wounds in Mariinka, and four houses were damaged in shooting attack. The town has been cut off the electricity supply. Moreover, two border guard modules were damaged at a checkpoint.
In the Luhansk sector militants’ attacks are the most intense in Popasna district. Hostilities started after 10 a.m. and continued till late night. Militants were using mortar launchers and artillery launching at least 50 shells at Ukrainian positions. “Moreover, Russian proxies conducted mortar attacks in Syze (Stanytsia Luhanska district) and Krymske (Novyi Aidar district). In total, 15 hostile attacks took place in the Luhansk sector yesterday, and eight of them involved use of heavy armor,” added Col. Motuzyanyk.
Report on the military developments as of February 2 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
