Ministry of Defense: Russia-backed militants increase the number of attacks by 60 percent

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Russia-backed militants delivered 39 precision attacks in eastern Ukraine yesterday. “Ukrainian troops returned fire 13 times using weapons not proscribed under the Minsk agreements,” reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman Colonel Dmytro Hutsulyak at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

In Donetsk sector, Russian proxies violated the ceasefire 37 times. Mostly using heavy machine guns and grenade launchers. Outside Shakhta Butovka militants fired two 82-mm mortar rounds towards Ukrainian troops’ positions.

“The highest number of militants’ attacks was recorded in Avdiivka, Shakhta Butovka, Kamianka, and Pavlopil areas. The strongholds of Ukrainian troops near Hnutove, Kamianka, Lebedynske, Nevelske, Opytne and Shyrokyne came under the hostile fire as well,” Colonel Hutsulyak said. Moreover, hostile sniper fire was recorded outside Shakhta Butovka, Shyrokyne and Vodiane.

In Luhansk sector, militants made a series of 10-minute small arms attacks near Donets and Stanytsia Luhanska.

Fortunately, Ukrainian troops incurred no casualties yesterday.

Report on the military developments as of April 4 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.