LPR reports surge in Ukrainian army attacks
LUHANSK. Oct 3 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian army has intensified attacks on the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), according to LPR militia spokesman Yakov Osadchy.
"The Ukrainian administration has approved the Steinmeier formula, which stipulates disengagement of forces and equipment in Petrivske and Zolote, yet JFO commanders continue to oppose peace initiatives and the withdrawal of arms from the contact line," Osadchy told the press on Wednesday.
As a result, the Ukrainian army "has intensified attacks on populated localities in the LPR so that the militia returns fire and gets blamed for breaching the ceasefire," Osadchy said.
The Ukrainian army launched two attacks on Thursday, and Slovianoserbsk and Pervomaisk came under fire, Osadchy said. In his words, the Ukrainian army fired 82mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, and various types of grenade launchers. A power transition line was damaged as a result of the attack on Slovianoserbsk. More than 350 households suffered a power outage, he said.
"Our forces are honoring the truce and are not yielding to provocations. We ask the OSCE observers to record violations by Ukraine, and to discipline Ukrainian forces in order to implement the ceasefire," Osadchy said.