Ministry of Defense: Enemy fires from tanks in Donetsk and Mariupol sectors

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In Luhansk sector our troops recorded 14 militants’ attacks yesterday. Three of these involved mortars. Hostile subversive reconnaissance team consisting of seven militants approached Ukrainian stronghold near Krymske just after midnight and opened fire. Ukrainian troops responded with fire. “Around 01:00 the enemy retreated to the woods towards Frunze. Ukrainian troops incurred no losses in action,” informed Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO- related issues Colonel Andriy Lysenko at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

Russia-backed militant groups were shelling Ukrainian positions in Triokhizbenka, Krymske and Zolote with mortars. “The enemy instigated two armed provocations with light weapons at Donetsk railway station near Stanytsia Luhanska and Novooleksandrivka between 09:00 and 12:00,” added Col. Lysenko. In Donetsk sector militants shelled Shakhta Butovka position with grenade launchers and small arms. They fired at Nevelske and Shakhta Butovka position with a tank after 23:00. In total, Ukrainian troops recorded four incidents of ceasefire violations in this sector. 

In Mariupol sector Ukrainian northern strongholds came under militants’ fire. Russian proxies shelled Novotroitske with various grenade launchers and APC weapons. Two mortar attacks were observed in Krasnohorivka.  Militants fired almost 50 mortar rounds. “Moreover, the enemy opened fire from tanks.  Militants were shooting from mortars at Ukrainian positions near the town two times more at night,” emphasized the spokesman. After 22:00 militants conducted a brief artillery attack at Shyrokyne. Eight hostile attacks were recorded in Mariupol sector,  five of them involved heavy weapons. 

No Ukrainian serviceman was killed in action yesterday, but one soldier was wounded.  Another serviceman tripped a mine near Nevelske and sustained lethal injuries.