Two Ukrainian Soldiers Wounded in Battle; Russia-Backed Militants Prevent OSCE Drone Launch

Russia-backed forces made 42 attacks on Ukrainian positions. Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded. On the Donetsk line, 122-mm mortars and an armed BMP were used to attack Shirokino and 82-mm mortars were fired near Peski. Grenade-launchers and small arms were fired on Vodyanoye, Lebedinskoye, Maryinka and Avdeyevka. Heavy machine guns and small arms were fired on Talakovka and Gnutovo. There were also attacks on Krasnogorovka, Pavlopol, the Butovka mine, Peski, and Kamenka. Sniper fire was active near Shirokino.

On the Lugansk line, 82-mm and 120-mm mortars, grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns were fired near Luganskoye; 120-mm mortars were fired on Valuyskoye and 82-mm mortars, an armed BMP and heavy machine guns were fired on Troitskoye. Also 82-mm mortars, grenade-luanchers and heavy machine guns were fired on Novoluganskoye.

There were 27 attacks in the previous reporting period.

The ATO announced that since May 2017, 32 civilians have been killed and 25 wounded in attacks by Russia-backed forces; 211 homes have been damaged or destroyed along with 36 civilian buildings and 12 automobiles.

On April 5, militants prevented OSCE monitors from launching a drone, threatening them, Liga.net reported.

A squad leader of Russia-backed militants, age 23, a resident of Slavyansk, turned himself into Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut, Liga.net reported.

— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick