“In the Donetsk sector the combat activity continues along the entire frontline. Hostilities resumes in the Donetsk airport,” 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.
The situation is the most difficult near Avdiivka, there militants conducted nine attacks yesterday. This was the record high in the entire ATO zone. “Enemy’s first attack took place at 2 a.m., and the final one ended at 11 p.m. Occupants were actively using heavy weaponry, both during the day and at night, launching about 110 mines and projectiles at Ukrainian positions. Insurgents mostly fired from eastern and south-eastern direction,” said Col. Motuzyanyk. Intense hostile mortar attacks occurred in other seven positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The most intense was in Verkhniotoretske in the evening. In total, 22 hostile attacks took place in the Donetsk sector yesterday, and 16 involved heavy armor.
In the Luhansk sector the day started with two intense artillery attacks at Ukrainian positions in Popasna area. Russian proxies were shooting from 152-mm cannons deployed in Stakhaniv, launching 22 projectiles. Hostilities resumed in this area after 4 p.m. and continued till 11 p.m. Militants were actively using mortar launchers almost in every attack. In Krymske Russia-backed militants violated the ceasefire several times using heavy armor. “In addition, enemy opened fire in the Stanytsia Luhanska district in the morning and in the evening. In total, 14 hostile attacks took place in the Luhansk sector yesterday, and none of them involved heavy armor,” added Col. Motuzyanyk.
The situation remains difficult in the Mariupol sector. Every second attacks at Ukrainian positions involved mortar launchers. “The most intense hostilities took place in Krasnohorivka, Vodiane and Shyrokyne. The ceasefire held in Mariinka and the northern part of the Volnovakha district,” said the spokesman. In total, 12 militants’ attacks took place in the Mariupol sector yesterday.
Ukrainian Armed Forces incurred no losses in combat yesterday, and seven troops were wounded.
Report on the military developments as of May 20 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
