Ukraine's Defense Ministry says Joint Forces repelled the attack of Russian-occupation forces in Donbas, tackling a 5-hour battle near the village of Krymske, Luhansk region, on the morning of August 23.
Four Ukrainian soldiers were killed in action and another seven – wounded, the report says.
Since midnight on August 23 to 13:00 Kyiv time, militants opened aimed fire 12 times at Ukrainian positions in the conflict zone.
In particular, occupiers were shelling Ukrainian troops near Krymske for more than two hours starting 05:25. At the same time, Ukrainian strongholds outside the villages of Novotoshkivske also came under enemy fire.
Around 06:00, militants, firing artillery and mortars, approached the advanced positions of one of Ukraine's mechanized brigades in the area of Krymske. The invaders tried to seize Ukrainian observation posts along the Bakhmut route.
Read alsoJFO: Ukraine reports 1 KIA, 1 WIA in Donbas in past day
"To repel the offensive, the Brigade Command employed reserves and opened aimed fire, effectively countering the enemy attack. The enemy's losses are being clarified," the Defense Ministry said.
In the battle outside Krymske, four Ukrainian troops were killed in action and another seven were wounded.
During the clash, militants launched more than 30 artillery shells and over 60 mortar shells on Ukrainian troops.
Also, they opened fire from infantry fighting vehicles and grenade launchers.
As UNIAN reported, since day start, Russian occupation forces have fired on Ukrainian positions from artillery, mortars, heavy machine guns, and small arms near Novotoshkivske, Krymske, Starohnativka, and Vodiane.
