Ukrainian soldiers begin clean up operation in gray zone of Avdiivka
Ukrainian soldiers have started a total clean-up of the so-called "gray zone" of Old Avdiivka, as reported by Channel 5.
It was noted that the Ukrainian army hold no positions here, but the National Police say that separatists are often noticed in the area. Ukrainian forces are checking every house, every cellar and each roof.
Servicemen claim that the separatists have changed their tactics; that is why fighting them using the old methods is now very difficult. In particular, hostile scouts come to residential areas and fire towards the Ukrainian army and local residents.
"If someone approaches, usually they are locals. They have documents, registration. And now there are a lot of different things like gauntlets and bullet-proof vests. It became impossible to find callouses on fingers or bruises on shoulders, as we did in 2014 and 2015," according to a Kyiv National Police soldier, Kahn.
According to residents in Old Avdiivka, the silence lasted only a few days. Now separatists are again firing all weapons.
"A week ago, a woman went outside to talk on the phone. She was hit by a stray bullet and sustained a stomach wound. Another accident happened with a grandson who came to help his grandfather. He was hit in the head. The doctors struggled for over two days, but he died in Kramatorsk hospital," says Fridon Vekua, the First Deputy Head of the Military-Civilian Administration of Avdiivka.