The situation in eastern Ukraine slightly escalated after the so-called “Christmas ceasefire”. “Russia-backed militants violated the ceasefire six times yesterday, and used mortars, infantry fighting vehicles (IFV), and grenade launchers,” reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Colonel Oleksandr Motuzyanyk at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
In Luhansk sector, militants violated the ceasefire in Svitlodarsk area. “They fired forty-seven 120-mm mortar rounds against Ukrainian positions near Luhanske. Near Svitlodarsk, militants used heavy machine guns and grenade launchers,” elaborated the spokesman. These attacks continued for four hours. Ukrainian troops did not return fire.
In Donetsk sector, Russian proxies violated the ceasefire two times near Novotroitske using small arms, including sniper rifles. These armed provocations continued for two hours with a small break. In Pavlopil they fired six 120-mm mortar rounds at daytime. Moreover, militants used IFVs, grenade launchers and heavy machine guns near Talakivka. Ukrainian servicemen returned fire using small arms and grenade launchers.
Unfortunately, three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in action near Svitlodarsk and Novotroitske yesterday.
Report on the military developments as of January 8 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
