Over the last week, the number of ceasefire violations committed by Russia-backed militants fluctuated between 13 on Wednesday July 5, and 38 on Sunday July 9. “The intensity of enemy attacks started to increase by the end of the last week,” reported Vilyen Pidgornyy, Ministry of Defense of Ukraine spokesperson, at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Overall, the situation showed signs of de-escalation, the average number of attacks committed by Russia-backed militants decreased by 26% and reached 20 per day. “The number of instances of heavy weapons use by the enemy decreased significantly – from 10 to 3 instances daily – and the number of shells fired at Ukrainian positions – by six times (from 152 shells to 27)”, elaborated the spokesman.
Security situation
The daily number of cease-fire violations in Luhansk sector ranged between 2 (on July 4 and 5) and 10 (on July 9). Last week, militants opened gunfire across the front line in the sector. “On July 5, Russian proxies engaged Ukrainian troops using small intensity mortar fire at Krymske. On July 6, invaders fired 15 mortar bombs at Troitske. The tensest situation was registered on Saturday, when Russian proxies shelled Troitske and Krymse with mortars. During four episodes of fire, enemy released 56 mortar bombs at positions of Ukrainian army. On July 9, pro-Russian militants delivered disturbing mortar fire at Krymske, Novotoshkivske and Novozvanivka”, reported the spokesman.
The daily number of cease-fire violations in Donetsk sector ranged between 3 (on July 7) and 8 (on July 5, 6, 8 and 9).
On Monday and Tuesday militants opened fire with small arms against Avdiivka. Occasionally Russian-backed militants fired at Horlivka and Donetsk airport areas. On July 5, Russian proxies opened fire with 120 mm mortars against Pisky. The tensest situation in the sector was registered on July 7. “That day, Russia-equipped militants launched hour long complex fire with mortars, tanks, IFVs and small arms against Pisky,” elaborated Vilyen Pidgornyy. During the weekend, Russia-backed militants used mortars against Avdiivka several times.
In Mariupol sector, the daily number of cease-fire violations ranged between 3 (on July 5) and 20 (on July 9). On July 3, militants opened fire with mortars, Grad-P rocket launchers and 122 mm artillery against Vodiane, having discharged more than 30 shells and missiles. On July 6, Russia-backed militants delivered mortar fire at Pavlopil and Shyrokyne. On July 7, Russian proxies opened small intensity mortar fire at Novotroitske, Vodiane and Shyrokyne. On July 9, Russia-backed mortar operators opened indirect fire at Krasnohorivka, Novotroitske and Novomykhailivka.
News from Ukrainian military intelligence
Last week Russia-backed militants continued conducting aerial surveillance activity of Ukrainian positions. “Ukrainian troops were registering from one to two episodes daily of enemy drones performing aerial reconnaissance along the front line”, reported the spokesman.
According to the Ukrainian military intelligence, the total number of casualties amongst Russian proxies is 17 killed and 17 wounded over the week. “Popasna area in the Luhansk sector accounted for 6 casualties which is 19 percent of total enemy losses over the week”, elaborated Vilyen Pidgornyy.
Casualties and damage to infrastructure, humanitarian situation
Last week three Ukrainian servicemen were killed in action and 12 – wounded in action. A Ukrainian soldier, who had previously incurred heavy injuries during the enemy shelling on June 29 in the Mariupol sector, died of wounds in Dnipro hospital. In Donetsk and Mariupol sector two civilians were killed and two were injured.
Three private homes were damaged by militants’ fire in the frontline area. “Two of them are located in Zaytseve, Donetsk sector, and the other one is in Maryinka, Mariupol sector”, elaborated the spokesman. In addition, Russian proxies damaged two segments of a gas pipeline near Avdiivka town and its suburbs directly hitting it with mortar mines.
Report on the military developments as of the previous week is available here, as of July 10 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.