Russia-backed militants committed 47 ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine yesterday, several of them involved artillery and mortars, reported Ukrainian Ministry of Defense spokesman Maksym Prauta at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center. According to the Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian servicemen returned fire 19 times using weapons not proscribed under the Minsk agreements. Unfortunately, two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in action yesterday.
Forty-two ceasefire violations committed by Russian proxies took place in Donetsk sector. In the evening, they discharged a number of 82-mm mortar rounds near Avdiivka and Shakhta Butovka. In addition, militants used small arms, heavy machine guns and various grenade launchers in the same areas, as well as near Vodiane, Krasnohorivka, Shyrokyne, Maryinka, Opytne, Kamianka, Nevelske, Lebedynske, Pavlopil and Pisky.
In Luhansk sector, militants delivered five attacks. “As we have already mentioned yesterday, Russian proxies shelled Ukrainian positions near Prychepylivka with 122-mm artillery. There were three repeated attacks between midnight and 00:30. Moreover, they used 82-mm mortars in Novozvanivka and Novhorodske areas. Near the latter the enemy also used a towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin autocannon ZU-23-2, grenade launchers and small arms. This attack took place in the evening,” said Col. Prauta. In addition, militants committed two small arms attacks in Stanytsia Luhanska area, firing from Knyaz Ihor hill (area not controlled by the government). “These provocations make it impossible for us to withdraw forces and hardware in this area. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are ready to implement decisions of the Trilateral Contact Group, if the leaders of Russian occupational administrations firmly fulfill all preliminary agreements,” noted Ministry of Defense spokesman.
Today, as of 09:00 of April 30, militants have delivered nine attacks. One incident involving grenade launchers and small arms took place in Valuiske, Luhansk sector, at about 02:00. The other eight attacks took place in Donetsk sector. “The enemy discharged some ten 120-mm and 82-mm mortar rounds near Shakhta Butovka between 05:00 and 06:00. In addition, militants opened fire from grenade launchers and heavy machine guns near Pisky, Vodiane, Avdiivka, Pavlopil, Shyrokyne and Opytne,” elaborated Col. Prauta.
Report on the military developments as of April 29 is available here. Interactive data on the shelling: chronology shelling chart and the interactive map.
