Militants launched 16 attacks on Ukrainian troops in Donbas in last day

Russian-backed militants launched 16 attacks, using weapons banned under the Minsk agreements twice, on positions of Ukrainian troops in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in Donbas in last day. 

“Over the past day, the enemy shelled Ukrainian positions outside Lebedynske (16km north-east of Mariupol), Hnutove (19km north-west of Mariupol), Pavlopol (30 km northeast of Mariupol), Novomykhailivka (28km south-west of Donetsk), Krymske (42.5km north-west of Luhansk), Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk), Nevelske (18km north-west of Donetsk), Stepne (29km south-west of Donetsk), Chermalyk (31km north-east of Mariupol) and Vodiane (16km north-west of Donetsk),” the JFO Headquarters press center reports.

Russian-occupation troops fired 120mm and 82mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. Militants used 120mm mortars to shell JFO units outside Novomykhailivka; 82mm mortars – near Chermalyk. Russian mercenaries also opened fire from anti-tank missile systems on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Lebedynske.

No casualties among Ukrainian troops were reported in last day. According to the intelligence, two militants were killed and another four were wounded.

As of 07:00 October 19, illegal armed formations launched three attacks on Ukrainian troops near Avdiivka (18km north of Donetsk), Hnutove and Vodiane, using grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. One Ukrainian serviceman was wounded in shelling.

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