Ukraine Day 958: LIVE UPDATES BELOW.
2 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded today and there were unconfirmed reports that 3 Russia-backed militants were killed.
Yesterday’s live coverage of the Ukraine conflict can be found here.
- READ OUR SPECIAL REPORT:
An Invasion By Any Other Name: The Kremlin’s Dirty War in Ukraine
Ceasefire in Ukraine? What ceasefire?
On Sunday, the Ukrainian military reported that Russian-backed militants had broken the ceasefire 50 times over the previous 24 hours, with mortars and artillery being used in both Lugansk and Donetsk regions.
There continues to be a great deal of concern about Stanytsia Luganska, located northeast of the city of Lugansk, the self-declared capital of the so-called “Lugansk Peoples’ Republic.” It is one of the most exposed Ukrainian military positions, particularly in Lugansk region:
According to Unian.info, the Ukrainian military says that there were 10 ceasefire violations in the region, and among other weapons 82mm mortars were used against Ukrainian positions.
On the Black Sea, the Ukrainian military reported that the ceasefire had been violated 17 times. 82mm mortars and an infantry fighting vehicle were used on that front.
The most fighting, however, was reported near donetsk. Unian.info reports:
In the direction of Donetsk, 20 attacks were recorded. Militants opened fire from grenade launchers, machine guns and small arms near Avdiyivka, Novhorodske, Novoselivka, Novoselivka Druha, Troitske, Verhnetoretskiy, Kamenka, Maiorsk, and Zaitseve. Avdiyivka, Novoselivka Druha, Verhnetoretskiy, Kamenka, Maiorsk and Zaitseve were also shelled by militant 120mm and 82mm mortars.
Militants continue ceasefire violations: almost 50 attacks in past 24 hrs
10 violations of ceasefire were recorded in the direction of Luhansk. The enemy resorted to armed provocations in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska, Novooleksandrivka and Novozvanivka where the militants fired grenade launchers, machine guns and small arms. The village of Novozvanovka was under 82mm mortar and sniper fire.
Ukraine Today reports that Russian-backed fighters are refusing to withdraw from their positions near the front lines in Lugansk region despite the ceasefire:
“We noticed the fact of their troop withdrawal yesterday regarding the village of Zolote. Regarding Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske, we record enemy shelling every day. According to the framework agreement, there should be 7 days of a complete cease-fire, which is not happening right now”, Bohdan Senyk, head of the PR department of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, commented for 112 TV Channel.
Donbas militants refuse to pull back their troops from the contact line
Pro-Russian Fighters Advance On Debaltseve Despite Ceasefire Agreement, 2015 (Getty Images) Russian-backed proxies say "we won't withdraw our forces until Ukraine is ready" Russian-backed separatists in Donbas don't want to leave their strongholds near the villages of Stanytsia Luhanska and Petrivske as it is provided by the latest Minsk framework arrangements.