Security situation in eastern Ukraine continues to deteriorate. Russia-backed militants committed 20 ceasefire violations yesterday, 19 of these attacks took place in Luhansk sector. “Militants fired a total of seventy 120 mm mortar rounds and some 150 rounds from 82-mm mortars on Ukrainian positions yesterday,” reported Colonel Maksym Prauta, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO, at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. Ukrainian troops returned fire eight times, using weapons not proscribed by the Minsk agreements.
The highest number of Russian proxies’ attacks in Luhansk sector took place in Svitlodarsk area. In the morning and during the day, militants committed a number of short attacks near Zalizne, Luhanske, Malynove and Taramchuk, firing from various grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and other light weapons. Between 16:00 and midnight, they repeatedly fired from 120-mm and 82-mm mortars near Luhanske, Troitske and Svitlodarsk. “They accompanied mortar fire in these areas, as well as near Novooleksandrivka, with intense fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and other light weapons. In addition, militants fired from weapons of an infantry fighting vehicle. This happened near Luhanske late at night,” noted Col. Prauta.
Compared with the previous day, it was relatively calm in Donetsk sector. Militants violated the ceasefire once at about 9:00 near Taramchuk, using heavy machine guns and small arms.
Unfortunately, two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in action yesterday.
Report on the military developments as of February 16 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
