REUTERS
The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in eastern Ukraine 52 times in the past 24 hours, including 39 times in the Donetsk sector, 11 times in the Mariupol sector, and twice in the Luhansk sector, the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) reported on Thursday.
"The militants more and more attacked the Ukrainian fortified positions in the village of Zaitseve and the town of Avdiyivka, using various types of weapons, including banned 120mm and 82mm mortars, having launched more than 130 mines," the report says.
The occupiers fired antitank missile systems on the Ukrainian fortified positions near the town of Popasna and the village of Troyitske, as well as infantry fighting vehicles near the village of Luhanske and thrice near Avdiyivka.
It is noted that the militants also fired rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns on the Ukrainian positions in the villages of Novhorodske and Mayorsk.
Read alsoMilitants attack ATO troops 42 times in last day"In the Mariupol sector, the Russian-backed mercenaries fired 82mm mortars, antitank missile systems, and small arms on ATO forces near the village of Shyrokyne. Enemy snipers were shootin on the Ukrainian positions near the village of Nevelske, and the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka," the headquarters said.
Read alsoTrain with ammo from Russia arrives in Ilovaysk – Ukraine IntelAt 19:15 local time, in the vicinity of Popasna, a sabotage and reconnaissance group of militants of about 10 people made an attempt to enter the territory controlled by ATO forces, but it was spotted by an observer. The Ukrainian military opened fire and the militants had to retreat. At midnight, the militants stopped shelling.