3 Ukrainian Soldiers Wounded in Battle; 1 Civilian Injured in Maryinka; 66 Attacks from Russia-Backed Forces in Past 24 Hours

Russia-backed forces attacked Ukrainian positions 41 times overnight and two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded, Liga.net reported, citing the ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] morning dispatch.

In the evening dispatch, the ATO reported another 25 attacks bringing the total for the past 24 hours to 66. Another Ukrainian soldier was wounded bringing the total to 3.

Overnight on the Maritime line, militants attacked Ukrainian troops near Novotroitskoye with 120-mm mortar-launchers; Maryinka was attacked by tanks, 82-mm mortars, automatic grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns. Grenade-launchers and small arms were used to attack Vodyanoye and Gnutovo; small arms were used at Shirokino. Snipers were active at Lebedinskoye and Maryinka.

During the day, militants attacked Shirokino with 82-mm mortars and Vodyanoye with grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns. Lebedinskoy was attacked with machine guns and small arms.

Overnight on the Donetsk line, 82-mm and 120-mm mortar were fired on Troitskoye; 82-mm mortars were used near Kamenki. Peski was attacked with an armed BMP, automatic grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns. Grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns were used to attack Avdeyevka, the Butovka mine and Zaytsevo; small arms were fired on Nevelskoye.

During the day most attacks were on the Donetsk line; 82-mm mortars and an armed BMP were fired on Luganskoye. Grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns pounded Avdeyevka, the Butovka mind and Kamenki; anti-tank grenades and firearms were used to attack Zaytsevo and Peski. Snipers were active around the Butovka mine.

During the night on the Lugansk line, automatic grenade-launchers, 82-mm and 120-mm mortars were used on Krymskoye; grenade launchers and firearms were used on Stanitsa Luganskaya and Zhyoltoye.

During the day, small arms were fired on Valuyskoye.

Ukrainian forces returned fire.

A number of homes were damaged near Maryinka on Shevchenko Street when mortars struck civilian areas, the AT0 reported. One civilian was injured by shrapnel and taken to the hospital in Kurakhovo.

Donetsk Region police detained two militants in Bakhmut who said they were with the self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic, Liga.net reported, citing the Donetsk Region Facebook page.

Arms were confiscated from one of the militants including 8 Shmels of Russian manufacture, 8 machine guns and 41 magazines and more than 3,400 bullets. 

The detainees were not yet charged but are expected to face a number of criminal charges.

Ukrainian military TV interviewed some soldiers at the front at Maryinka who said the ceasefire had not meant a let-up in shelling from Russia-backed forces for them. 

— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick

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