Kyiv says battle actions in Mariupol direction resume
KYIV. July 30 (Interfax) - The situation in the military operation zone in Donbas remains tense, battle actions are held in the M sector, Ukrainian presidential administration spokesman Andriy Lysenko said at a briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.
"Battle actions resumed in the Mariupol direction - in the evening militants shot at our positions east of Starohnatovka with 122mm cannons and a tank. At the same time, use of tanks by illegal armed formations was registered near Hranytne. There were two armed provocations to the south, in Mykolaivka and Chermalyk," Lysenko said. There were no battle actions at the front line from Pavlopol to Shyrokyne, he said.
"The situation is getting worse near Horlivka, the intensity of enemy fire and frequency of cannon use is increasing. The highest number of shootings by illegal armed formations is registered in Mykolaivka, Mayorsk and Leninskoye. The enemy is firing at positions of the anti-terrorist operation forces from all types of arms, except for rocket launchers," Lysenko said.
According to Lysenko, the enemy has become quite active in Pervomaisk. Positions of Ukrainian servicemen at the turn of Popasna-Troitske came under fire from anti-aircraft mounts, mortar launchers, tanks and cannons; all incidents took place at night, he said.
"The situation has not changed in the Donetsk area; shooting and provocations continue along the entire front line from Avdiivka to Marinka. Militants use mine waste and green space - forests, parks and even cemeteries in four western districts of Donetsk - to correct fire," Lysenko said.
Grenade launches near the village of Luhanska took place in the evening, the official said. The situation north of Bakhmutska highway continues to escalate and Ukrainian positions came under fire from grenade launchers twice from Krymske.
The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) has reported a surge in the Ukrainian Armed Forces' strikes targeting its territory. "The intensity of the Ukrainian side's shelling has increased in the past 24 hours and has amounted to 61 breaches of the ceasefire. Thirty-four artillery shells of 152mm and 122mm calibers, 102 tank shells and 303 mines of 82mm and 120mm calibers have been launched against the territory of Donbas. Grenade launchers and small arms have been used as well," Eduard Basurin of the DPR Defense Ministry told reporters on Thursday.
The most intense artillery and mortar strikes targeted the town of Horlivka, he said.
According to the information of Basurin, in 24 hours two civilians died and five were injured in the DPR. "Our republic has another tragedy today. Two civilians - a man and a woman, born 1986 - died in Horlivka; five were injured, including two children. Shooting at civilian districts is held purposefully at night, when civilians are most vulnerable," Basurin said.
According to Basurin, DPR intelligence continues to register movement of Ukrainian equipment. "Artillery positions have been registered in Dyliivka. The arrival of one unit of Grad BM-21s has been registered in Novhorodske," he said.