1 Ukrainian Soldier Dies of Wounds; 1 Injured; Russian-Backed Militants Fire 26 Times on Ukrainian Positions

As we reported, six soldiers were wounded in Avdeyevka on September 16. One of them died of his wounds the next day, UAToday reported.

A Ukrainian soldier also died during training on September 16, Unian reported.

Another Ukrainian serviceman wounded severely yesterday was receiving treatment for his wounds in Dnipro.

Russian-backed forces fired 26 times on Ukrainian positions in the previous 24 hours, the ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] reported at 6:00 am.

On the Donetsk line, militants fired from 120-mm artillery, machine guns and small arms in the Avdeyevka area. Verknyetoretskoye, Nizhnaya Lozovaya and Novgorodskaya were fired on with grenade-launchers and small arms; in Nizhnaya Kozovaya, militants used 82-m artillery and an anti-aircraft system.

On the Mariupol line, militants fired from grenade-launcher, machine guns and small arts near Talakovka, Pavlopol, Maryinka, and Shirokino. They also opened fire from a BMP near Talakovka. 

Then at 18:00, the ATO reported  that militants had fired 6 times but did not use heavy artillery.

On the Mariupol line, militants fired with machine guns and small arms near Maryinka and Pavlopol; they also used long-range rifles and snipers’ groups were observed near Maryinka.

On the Donetsk line, most of the firing was around the industrial zone in Avdeyevka, using grenade-launchers, machine guns and small arms.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces said they did not return fire.

The DNR News, the news service of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, claimed Ukrainian Forces fired 90 times, including 42 shells from 80-mm artillery, striking Yasinovataya, Spartak, Zaytsevo, Gorlovka, Shirokaya Balka, Zaryanovo and the Petrovsk District of Donetsk. They also used grenade-launchers and small arms.

Later, the DNR News said the evening passed calmly along the front line.

In other news:

Deputy Head of Presidential Administration Killed in Accident 

Andriy Taranov, deputy head of the presidential administration responsible for coordination of the force ministries was killed in a water bike crash when his vessel hit a barge, UAToday reported, citing Unian.

The accident is under investigation but no foul play has been suspected.

Taranov, a former volunteer and organize of special forces units has held the position since December 2014.

3 Detained for Blocking Voters from Russian Embassy in Kiev 

Three persons were detained for obstructing passage to the Russian Embassy in Kiev, preventing Russian citizens from entering to vote, Unian reported. One voter was also reportedly beaten.

Among the three was Igor Miroshnichenko, currently a deputy of the Kiev city council and a former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada from the Svoboda party.

The protesters brought a dummy with Putin’s head and signs that said “Death to Russia!”.

They claimed to be citizens of Russia who were not going to vote on principle. 

But later the DNR News complained that the suspect in the beating of a voter was released.

Poroshenko Visits US