Last week, the number of ceasefire violations by Russia-backed militants in the conflict zone in Eastern Ukraine ranged between 18 (on Sunday, August 6), and 38 (on Friday, August 4) incidents per day. “The share of enemy ceasefire violations with heavy weapons amounted to 46 cases, which is 24 per cent of 192 enemy ceasefire violations over the week,” reported Vilyen Pidgornyy, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman at a press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
Dynamics of hostilities
The situation was the tensest in Luhansk sector. The daily number of ceasefire violations by the militants ranged between 6 (on August 5) and 15 (on August 4). The attacks often involved mortars and grenade launchers. “On July 31, Russian proxies four times opened mortar fire against Krymske. On August 2, invaders opened high-intensity mortar fire against Troitske, having discharged 30 mortar bombs just in 20 minutes. On Thursday and Friday, Russia-equipped militants limited their combat activity to Popasna area, where they engaged various positions of Ukrainian Armed Forces with grenade launchers. On August 5, Russian proxies used mortars against Krymske once again, having fired more than 10 bombs toward positions of the Ukrainian army,” elaborated the spokesman.
In Donetsk sector, the daily number of cease-fire violations ranged between 4 (on August 6) and 18 (on August 5). On August 1, Russia-backed militants opened mortar fire multiple times in Horlivka and Avdiivka areas, firing more than 70 mortar rounds. On August 2 and August 3, they fired from small arms predominantly in Avdiivka area. “On August 4, militants opened mortar fire against Avdiivka and Pisky, while several positions in Horlivka area came under fire of enemy infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). On August 5, the enemy opened mortar fire five times against Avdiivka and adjacent positions,” Pidgornyy added.
The intensity of militants’ fire was the lowest in Mariupol sector last week, with the daily number of cease-fire violations between 2 and 9. On August 2, they opened short artillery fire against Vodiane and Lebedynske. On other days, militants were using grenade launchers mainly in Pavlopil – Shyrokyne area. On Sunday, the situation escalated. Russian proxies’ attacked southern coastal positions of Ukrainian army with mortars, having discharged the total of 40 mortar bombs. “Also, Russia-equipped militants opened fire with “Grad” rocket launchers against Shyrokyne, having fired nearly 20 missiles,” noted the spokesman.
Moreover, Ukrainian troops registered 10 episodes of hostile drones conducting aerial reconnaissance along the front line (4 episodes in Luhansk sector, 5 in Mariupol sector and 1 in Donetsk sector).
Civilian casualties & damage to civilian infrastructure
Last week, one civilian was wounded in Novooleksandrivka, Luhansk sector. A private home in Mayorske, Donetsk sector, was hit by militants’ shell on August 1. “The next day, two sections of power lines near Avdiivka town and Yasunuvata district were damaged by enemy fire. More than 600 people were left without electricity. Both breakdowns were repaired by Ukrainian emergency services,” Pidgornyy added.
Russian military assistance to the militants
Ukrainian military intelligence reports about further military assistance coming from Russia to its proxies in eastern Ukraine. “Nine 152 mm self-propelled howitzers “Akatsiya”, 10 railway cars loaded with ammo and 2640 tons of fuel were delivered to the occupied territory by rail. In addition to this, two “Grad” multiple rocket launchers and another 420 tons of fuel were transported to the occupied territory by road,” elaborated Pidgornyy.
Casualties
Last week, 1 Ukrainian serviceman was killed in action, and 16 more were wounded in action, including 2 injured by a booby-trap explosion. According to intelligence reports, 11 Russia-backed militants were killed and 34 wounded over the week. Also, they lost one UAV.As the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports, the overall combat losses among Ukrainian military since the beginning of the war in eastern Ukraine amounts to 2,724 troops killed in action and 10,016 troops wounded in action.
As the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reports, the overall combat losses among Ukrainian military since the beginning of the war in eastern Ukraine amounts to 2,724 troops killed in action and 10,016 troops wounded in action.
Report on the military developments as of the previous week is available here, as of August 7 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
