Ministry of Defense: Russian proxies step up activities, use mortars in multiple attacks

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Russia-backed militants committed eight ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine yesterday, several attacks involved mortars. “Militants fired more than twenty 82-mm and 120-mm mortar rounds on our positions,” reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman on ATO Colonel Maksym Prauta at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. According to Ukrainian MOD, Ukrainian servicemen returned fire three times using weapons not proscribed under the Minsk agreements.

The majority of Russian proxies’ attacks took place in Luhansk sector. Militants committed six ceasefire violations there, all between 17:30 and midnight. “Militants fired more than 10 mortar rounds on Ukrainian positions near Krymske, the attack continued for one hour. In addition, near Krymske, Luhanske, Novhorodske, Malynove, Stanytsia Luhanska and Schastia the enemy actively used grenade launchers and heavy machine guns,” noted Col. Prauta.

In Donetsk sector, militants violated the ceasefire two times, both involved mortars. “In the evening, Russian proxies shelled Ukrainian positions near Pisky with 82-mm mortars, and used 120-mm ones near Vodiane”, noted Col. Prauta.

Fortunately, Ukrainian troops incurred no casualties yesterday.

Report on the military developments as of March 3 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.