Russia-backed militants used rocket launchers again in eastern Ukraine yesterday. The attack took place near Avdiivka at about 14:00. “Russian proxies fired three rockets from the Grad-P portable launcher. The missiles hit the southern-western outskirts of the near-front town. Luckily, there were no civilian casualties, however, a contact line of the railway tracks and an overhead power line between Yasynuvata and the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant were damaged,” reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
In total, Russian proxies made 22 attacks yesterday having fired one hundred and twenty-two 120-mm mortar rounds and sixty 82-mm mortar rounds. Ukrainian troops returned fire 12 times using weapons not proscribed under the Minsk agreements.
In Luhansk sector, Russia-backed militants made 16 lasting precision attacks. Between 21:00 and midnight Russian proxies fired over one hundred 82-mm and 120-mm mortar rounds near Luhanske. They also used IFV mounted weapons, grenade launchers, and small arms. In Travneve area, militants fired 40 rounds against Ukrainian positions in two hours, in Lozove area they fired fifteen 120-mm mortar rounds. Russia-backed militants also conducted mortar attacks near Krymske and Zaitseve having fired 12 and 10 rounds respectively. Moreover, militants delivered attacks near Popasna, Svitlodarsk, Novozvanivka, Troitske, and Novooleksandrivka using grenade launchers, machine guns, and small arms. Ukrainian troops returned fire in most cases.
In Donetsk sector, Russia-backed militants violated the ceasefire six times. They used 120-mm mortars near Vodiane. “Ukrainian troops’ positions near Kamianka, Opytne, and Berezove came under the hostile fire of 82-mm mortars,” Colonel Motuzyanyk added. Militants delivered lasting attacks using IFV mounted weapons and small arms near Hnutove, Kamianka and Bohdanivka. Ukrainian troops returned fire in response to most attacks using grenade launchers and small arms.
Fortunately, Ukrainian troops incurred no casualties yesterday.
Report on the military developments as of December 11 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
