The situation escalated in the entire ATO zone except a frontline in Mariupol sector yesterday, reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Colonel Andriy Lysenko at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
In Stanytsia Luhanska district Russian proxies opened fire from light weapons near Donetsk railway station, and attacked in Stanytsia Luhanska area near midnight. “Russian proxies mortar shelled Triokhizbenka just after midnight. Later they conducted two mortar attacks in Krymske around 01:00, and one involving grenade launchers at 05:00. Hostilities resumed about 10:00 in this area. The enemy shelled Krymske with barrel artillery four times in three hours and used mortars twice,” said Col. Lysenko.
In Popasna district hostilities continued virtually non-stop. Militants were shelling ATO troops’ positions in Novotoshkivske with mortars and artillery from 08:00 to 13:00, firing about 80 rounds. Ukrainian forces fired in response. Late at night Russian proxies attacked in Novooleksandrivka, having discharged 30 mortar rounds. Militants were shooting from mortars, artillery and tanks late at night in Troitske. “Brief mortar and small arms attacks took place in Novozvanivka, Popasna and Katerynivka during the day. In total, 32 enemy attacks took place in this sector, and 21 incidents involved heavy weapons,” added the spokesman.
In Svitlodarsk area Russian proxies shelled Novoluhanske with ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft system. “The enemy fire destroyed a garage and a shed in Novoluhanske. Direct hit caused a fire that had to be extinguished by firemen. No civilian casualties were reported,” informed Col. Lysenko. Attacks continued non-stop in Horlivka perimeter. Militants conducted two provocations involving mortars in Zaitseve and Verkhniotoretske, and actively used light weapons.
Near Avdiivka Russian proxies shelled Kamianka with mortars between 17:00 and 19:00, and repeatedly used light weapons in Avdiivka itself. “The situation was relatively calm in Donetsk airport. Militants attacked only once in Opytne. In total, there were 28 hostile attacks in the Donetsk sector, and six incidents involved heavy weapons,” summarized Col. Lysenko.
Militants did not use heavy weapons much in Mariupol sector. “Not a single case of heavy weapons use was recorded in the southernmost part of the sector yesterday, although it is a usual hotspot regarding Minsk-proscribed weapons use. In Vodiane and Shyrokyne the enemy actively used small arms, including sniper weapons,” emphasized Col. Lysenko. Militants used mortars three times near Chermalyk, firing 2-3 rounds each time. Around 17:00 the enemy fired two projectiles from Grad-Partizan rocket launcher. In Maryinka district militants fired two rounds from 82-mm mortars after the sunset and were shooting from small arms and APC weapons. In total, Russia-backed militants violated the ceasefire 25 times in Mariupol sector yesterday, and used heavy weapons in six incidents.
No Ukrainian serviceman was killed in action yesterday, but eight troops were wounded.
Report on the military developments as of June 6 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
