Russian-led forces mounted 36 attacks on Ukrainian troops in Donbas in the past day, using heavy weapons in nine instances.
In addition, the invaders once again thwarted the withdrawal of troops in the area of Stanytsia Luhanska, having opened fire from small arms, the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on June 16, 2018.
Read alsoMilitants suffer losses trying to knock Joint Forces off their positions in Donbas
"Over the past day, the situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation remained controlled. Hostilities with aggravation of the situation in certain areas continued along the entire contact line. In the Luhansk sector, the intensity of fighting decreased significantly compared to the previous day. In the area of Novotoshkivske, the enemy stopped attempts to seize the positions of our troops," reads the report.
"Near Troyitske, Luhanske, and Svitlodarsk in the Debaltseve direction, the JFO units suppressed the enemy fire, using small arms. In the Donetsk sector, the enemy was active near the towns of Maryinka and Avdiyika. However, our defenders delivered an adequate rebuff, suppressing the enemy activity," the press center said.
"The situation partially aggravated near the villages of Talakivka, Vodiane, and Lebedynske in the Mariupol sector. The defenders of the town of Mariupol were firmly keeping ground. So, the occupiers failed to improve their tactical position," it added.
No casualties among Ukrainian troops have been reported since the beginning of the day.
According to Ukraine's intelligence, one militant was exterminated and another one was wounded.
