Donbas conflicting sides trade ceasefire breach accusations
LUHANSK/DONETSK/KYIV. June 2 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian army has thrice breached the truce in the past 24 hours, the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) militia told Interfax on Friday.
"The Ukrainian army has thrice breached the truce over the day, using 82mm mortars, various types of grenade launchers, and small arms," the report said.
Militia positions came under attack in the vicinity of Kalynove, Sokilnyky and Kalynivka, the LPR militia said.
"There has been neither damage nor civilian or military casualties," it said.
In turn, the Defense Ministry of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) reported damage done to a house and a farm during an attack.
"The Ukrainian army launched an attack on the village of Lukove in the Telmanove district at 5:40 a.m. A house at 1A, Sovetska Street, was hit directly. The tractor pool of a local farm was set to fire," the Donetsk news agency said with reference to the DPR operative command.
According to the command, 120mm mortars were engaged in the attack.
Donetsk said it would inspect the incident scenes together with the OSCE mission.
Kyiv, for its part, reported 28 attacks on Ukrainian army positions during the day.
Eighteen ceasefire breaches were seen in the Mariupol sector, the army operation staff said in a report. Shyrokyne, Vodyane, Chermalyk and Talakivka came under attack of grenade launchers, heavy machineguns, and small arms, while 82mm mortars bombarded Mariinka, it said.
Eight attacks on Ukrainian army positions were observed in the Luhansk sector, the staff said. Grenade launchers and small arms were fired near Novozvanivka and Novooleksandrivka, while 120mm mortars were employed near Krymske, and 82mm mortars near Kryakivka.
There were two shooting incidents in the Donetsk sector: positions near Zaitseve came under attack of man-portable anti-tank grenade launchers and heavy machine guns, while 82mm mortars, automatic mounted grenade launchers and heavy machineguns shelled the suburbs of Avdiivka, the staff said.