The situation in Avdiivka partially deescalated yesterday, no lethal casualties.
The situation in the combat area in the east of Ukraine partially deescalated yesterday. In total, shooting attacks in Avdiivka lasted 11 hours. Previously, firefights continued non-stop, but this time militants used heavy weapons each time. Russian proxies went into assault at Ukrainian positions in Avdiivka after 4 p.m. The attack was supported by intense shelling from the side of Yasynuvata from all available weapons except “Grad” multiple rocket launcher systems (MRSL). “Two hostile groups, about 10 people each, attacked our positions from east and east south directions. The fight lasted several hours and ended in victory: our troops managed to maintain the stronghold and sustained no losses,” informed 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.
He added that militants became more active on the left flank of Avdiivka – in the vicinity of Kamianka, Kruta Balka and Donetsk filtering station. Two shooting attacks from tank and armored personnel carrier took place there. The armistice held yesterday on the right flank, in Butovka coal mine – Pisky area.
Law enforcement officers registered 22 damaged houses and two damaged vehicles in Avdiivka in the last 24 hours. “Avdiivka households are supplied with gas and heat at the moment, and the authorities are making efforts to resume power supply,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. Moreover, two additional mobile stations for heating, food and humanitarian aid distribution were deployed in the town.
Apart from Avdiivka, in the Donetsk sector Russia-backed militants also were shooting from artillery in Novoluhanske, and used light weapons and mortar launchers in Zaitseve. The ceasefire held at the Svitlodarsk bulge. In total, militants attacked 14 times in the Donetsk sector, and used heavy weapons nine times.
Russian proxies violated the ceasefire 25 times in the Mariupol sector, using heavy weapons four times. “The enemy used mortar launchers, tank and snipers several times. The armistice held between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and militants were shelling our positions the rest of the day,” said the spokesman. Most attacks took place in Chermalyk-Shyrokyne frontline area, and the rest near Mariinka and Novotroitske.
Militants conducted 12 shooting attacks in the Luhansk sector, using heavy weapons every second time. The majority of attacks took place in Popasna district. “The enemy used mortar launchers five times and Grad MRLS once. Occupants were using heavy weapons only during the hours of darkness,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. One brief attack took place in Zhovte.
Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no lehtal casualties in combat, and two troops were wounded in Avdiivka. According to the information from the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, there are about 380 severely wounded militants in the Donetsk hospitals.
Report on the military developments as of February 4 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
