Escalation near Zolote has been reported / Photo from UNIAN

The Ukrainian military were forced to retreat from their defensive positions near the town of Zolote in Luhansk region as a result of an enemy attack this morning.

Today's terrorist attacks were the fiercest over the past few years. Russian mercenaries also hit civilian neighborhoods, the Ukrainian TSN TV news service reports.

According to preliminary information, as a result of an attack on a platoon stronghold in the area controlled by the 72nd Brigade, the Ukrainian troops were forced to pull back from this small frontline section.

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Several Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly wounded in action and rushed to the hospital.

Their condition is reportedly stable.

Read alsoDonbas escalation: Russian occupation forces attack Ukrainian troops, try to penetrate line of contact (Video)

The Ukrainian military admit that the start of enemy shelling along the entire line of contact is similar to that they observed back in 2015, when the invaders fired not only at strongholds, but also at the entire sectors. The Ukrainian military are returning fire, reports say.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Russian-led forces attacked Ukrainian positions near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske, and Khutir Vilny in the morning of February 18.

Footage posted by civilians this morning testifies to the intensity of shelling.