Ukraine Day 1167: LIVE UPDATES BELOW. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 4 wounded in the last reporting period. OSCE monitors report shots fired near their patrols.
Yesterday’s 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
A grave damaged by Russia-backed shelling in Popasnyaya, April 29, 2017. Photo by Ukrainska Pravda
Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the past day and four wounded, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing the ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] morning dispatch on Facebook.
Doctors tried to save one soldier with an abdominal wound at Avdeyevka, bringing in surgeons from the 66th mobile military hospital, InfoResist reported, citing the ATO. But despite operating five hours, they were unable to save the serviceman.
Translation: A soldier wounded near Avdeyevka died.
On the Maritime line, Russia-backed militants fired 82-mm and 120-mm mortars as well as heavy machine guns at ATO positions in Krasnogorovka. Novotroitskoye was attacked with 120-mm mortars. Ukrainian positions near Beryozovoye was attacked with 82-mm mortars and near Gnutovo (Hnutove), automatic grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns were used.
Near Vodyanoye and Maryinka, an armed BMP, anti-tank grenades and heavy machine guns were used and small arms near Shirokino. Near Chermalyk, an armed BTR and grenade launchers were used to attack; an armed BMP and heavy machine guns were fired on the Ukrainian marines near Pavlopol.
On the Donetsk line, 82-mm and 120-mm mortars were used along with grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns at Avdeyevka. In Verkhnyetoretskoy, 82-mm mortars were used; the Butovka mine was attacked with heavy machine guns. Zaytsevo was struck with anti-tack grenades and small arms. Near the Butovka mine and Avdeyevka, snipers were active.
Ukrainska Pravda also reported Grad missiles were fired on a cemetery in Popasnaya (Popasna), resulting in the damaging of 21 graves, according to the Donetsk Region Police.
Unian reported that two groups of Russia-backed militants tried to seize the positions of the Ukrainian army in the Avdeyevka industrial zone. The Ukrainian soldiers were able to repel them after a three-hour battle.
Translation: Near Avdeyevka, two diversionary reconnaissance groups of militants tried to seize the positions of Ukrainian soldiers. After prolonged shelling of the position, the Ukrainian army attacked up to 100 terrorists.
Unian published a video of the shelling of the graveyard.
On the Lugansk line, 82-mm, 120-mm and 122-mm mortar-launchers were used along with grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns to attack Novotoshkovskoye. Near Krymskoye, Ukrainian positions were struck with 82-mm mortars and 122-mm artillery.
At Stary Aydar, 120-mm mortars were fired on Ukrainian positions and an anti-tank missile system was fired on Novoaleksandrovka. Grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns were fired on Novozvanovka; heavy machine guns and small arms pounded positions near Zhyoltoye.
The Ukrainian forces returned fire in certain instances.
o Explosion and Firing Near OSCE Monitors
The OSCE issued a Spot Report yesterday in which they described two incidents of firing near their team. The first involved an explosion and small-arms fire near their patrol at Molodizhne (Molodyozhnoye), consisting of six members and two armored vehicles. A member of the self-proclaimed “Lugansk People’s Republics” waved his arms indicating they should depart immediately.
The second involved a separate patrol of five members and two armored vehicles where the patrol hear a shot of small arms fire 40-50 m from their position at Kruta Hora.
The OSCE SMM reported yesterday also that it had restricted its movements due to the killing of an OSCE SMM member, US citizen Joseph Stone, and the injuring of two Europeans in the team.
— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
Note: The Interpreter has lost its funding!
Donate to this author to keep news and translations coming.