4 Ukrainian Soldiers Wounded in Last 2 Days

Three Ukrainian soldiers ages 19, 23 and 27 seriously wounded December 28 were taken the night of the 29th to the Dnepr military hospital, Unian reported.

One Ukrainian soldier was wounded as Russia-backed militants stepped up their air reconnaissance with drones banned under the Minsk agreement.

On the Azov Coast line, Militants fired 82-mm mortars and infantry weapons on Pavlopol and Talakovka. In the subub of Krasnogorovka, small arms were fired and a sniper was active. Grenade-launchers and light infantry weapons were fired on Verkhnyetoretskoye and heavy machine guns and small arms were fired near the Butovka Mine.

Fighters from the self-declared “Donetsk People’s Republic” did not allow observers from the OSCE mission to view the area where heavy armor was withdrawn, Unian reported, citing OSCE’s daily reports.

The SBU reported the detention of a citizen of Ukraine suspected of waging warfare against Ukrainian troops on the side of the Russia-backed forces. His name was not provided.

— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick