Escalation in Donbas: U.S. calls on Russia to fulfill Minsk and Normandy obligations
“We are deeply concerned by today’s reports of escalation of the conflict in the Donbas and urgently call on Russia to uphold its Minsk and Normandy commitments,” the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv wrote on its Twitter account.
On the morning of February 18, Russian-backed forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian Joint Forces units near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske and Khutir Vilnyi.
The invaders fired at the Ukrainian military from weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements: 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types and heavy machine guns. Supported by massive fire, Russian invaders launched an offensive operation and attempted to advance through the contact line.
According to the headquarters of the Joint Forces Operation, one Ukrainian soldier was killed, and four others were wounded.
ish