Ukraine Day 1142: LIVE UPDATES BELOW. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 8 wounded in battle; a Russia-backed fighter was also reportedly killed at Maryinka.
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A road near the front line in March 2017. Photo by AFP
The ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] reported a clash near Maryinka with a Russia-backed diversionary and reconnaissance group (DRG) that approached Ukrainian position near Trudovoye, which has been under separatist control. Ukrainian forces detected the DRG and opened fire, with caused them to withdraw. Ukrainian soldiers then found the body of one militant with arms and ammunition, but no identification.
Translation: ATO forces pushed back a storming by militants near Maryinka – headquarters – Novoye Vremya
At 6:00 am, the ATO reported 2 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 5 wounded; 48 attacks were made in violation of the ceasefire called for April 1; most attacks were on Maryinka, using 82-mm mortar launchers, an anti-aircraft ZU-23-2, grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns on the town of Berezovoye. The Ukrainian marines were attacked near Gnutovo and Vodyanoye from a BMP. Grenade-launhers were used on Bogdanovka and Chermalyk, and heavy machine guns on Shirokino and Krasnogorovka. Snipers were active near Gnutovo.
On the Donetsk line, the areas near Avdeyevka and the Butovka mine were most attacked with 82-mm and 120-mm mortar-launchers and grenade-launchers, and small arms were fired near Peski. Grenade-launchers were also fired on Verkhnyetoretskoye and heavy machine guns and small arms fired near Kamenki.
On the Lugansk line, 120-mm mortars were fired on Krymskoye. The ATO returned fire.
At 18:00, the ATO reported 3 Ukrainian soldiers were wounded, bringing the total for the last 24 hours to 8. Russia-backed forces violated the ceasefire 26 times during the day, mainly on the Donetsk line. Ukrainian positions in Avdeyevka were shelled from 82-mm mortar-launchers and grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns were also used. Grenade-launchers were also fired on Opytnoye and near Kamenki, Verkhnyetoretskoye, the Butovka mine and Peski. A sniper was also active around Optynoye.
Near Mariupol, militants fired on Krasnogorovka with 82-mm mortars and near Maryinka an Vodyanoe from grenade-launchers; positions near Gnutovo were attacked with heavy machines. Near Pavlopol, Bogdanovka and Granitnoye, small arms were used. A sniper fired on Ukrainian soldiers at Novotroitskoye.
On the Lugansk line, anti-tank systems, grenade-launchers and small arms were used. The Ukrainian army did not return fire.
Ukrainian repair crews were first able to get a guarantee of safety from shelling by Russia-backed forces through the Russian delegation to the Joint Coordination and Control Center, then were able to fix the damage at the Donetsk Filtration Station once again and get the power back on in Avdeyevka (Avdiivka) at 16:45.
Vladislav Makarov, a 19-year-old soldier who served in the 72nd Brigade, previously reported as injured in battle at Avdeyevka on March 2, died of his wounds after being medevaced to Kiev, Unian reported, citing Tatyana Guba, chair of the Dnepropetrovsk Regional State Administration reported on her Facebook page.
Segodnya reported that Sergei Ryzhenko, the chief physician who treated the soldier, said he had spent 12 days in a coma and 25 days in intensive care as his leg was torn off. He underwent hemodialysis, transfusions and other treatments, and said he was tormented by phantom limb pain.
Last week, the Ukrainian army ordered all soldiers under 20 to be removed from the front line and to go for further training, but the order came too late for Vladislav.
— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
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