11 Ukrainian soldiers wounded as violence continues to escalate in the Donbas
On Friday, 11 Ukrainian servicemen were injured in the Donbas region.
According to Ukrainian Independent Information Agency correspondents, the spokesman of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine, Andrei Lysenko, reported the injuries during a press conference
"On the last day of the operation, eleven soldiers were injured," Lysenko said.
According to him, the situation on the front lines continues to deteriorate. 84 ceasefire violations by pro-Russian separatists were recorded on Friday, and many included heavy weapons such as 82mm and 120 mm mortars, weapons which are banned by the Minsk Agreements. Also, both sides continue to exchange sniper fire. Near Svetlodarsk, however, the situation is relatively calm.
"At the forefront of our positions there were five provocations without the use of heavy weapons. In Zaitsevo and Mayorsk, the situation remains very difficult. The enemy regularly uses heavy weapons, while shelling takes place throughout both night and day. Further south, near the village of Novhorodske, occupants also repeatedly fired at our positions through the night exclusively. At one point, illegal armed groups even used an infantry fighting vehicle," Lysenko said.
He added that it was quiet yesterday on a front line from Gorlovka to Yasinovataya. Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the Donetsk Airport, separatists continue to use heavy weapons. On this front, the shelling lasted all day Friday.
"In Mariupol, activity of the militants has intensified. In particular, mortars repeatedly fired on Ukrainian positions near Krasnohorivka. Also, there has been extensive use of heavy weapons to the east of Mariupol.... For the first time after a considerably long period of silence, illegally armed groups opened fire in Shyrokine. In Krasnohorivka, Marinka, and Shyrokyne, snipers fired on our soldiers; however, in the Lugansk area, the ceasefire is still being complied with," Lysenko stated.
The OSCE has recently reported that the situation in the Donbas region continues to deteriorate, and ceasefire violations are recorded on a daily basis.