Escalation in eastern Ukraine: Militants use banned mortars

11.01.2018 09:25

Ukrinform

Russian-backed militants continue to violate ceasefire in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) area in eastern Ukraine, increasing the number and intensity of the armed provocations. Over the past day, three Ukrainian servicemen were killed, and another four soldiers were wounded and injured.

This is reported by the ATO Headquarters press center.

“Russian-backed militants launched a total of seven attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in ATO area in Donbas over the past day. Ukrainian troops returned fire only once. Three Ukrainian servicemen were killed, another three soldiers were wounded and one serviceman was injured,” reads the report.

As reported, in Luhansk direction, militants opened fire from mortars of different calibers on Ukrainian strongholds near Troitske (69km west of Luhansk). ATO troops outside Luhanske (59km north-east of Donetsk) came under 120mm and 82mm mortars and heavy machine gun fire. In addition, illegal armed formations shelled Ukrainian positions near Novoluhanske (53km north-east of Donetsk), using grenade launchers, machine guns and mortars of different calibers.

In Donetsk direction, militants fired automatic grenade launchers near Verkhniotoretske (22km north-east of Donetsk) and Butovka coal mine (11.4km north-west of Donetsk).

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