Ukraine Donbas battalion reports three killed near Mariupol since start of truce
KYIV. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Three members of the Ukrainian Donbas battalion have been killed in shelling attacks and nine have been wounded, three on Monday alone, since the fighting was halted in the military operation zone in eastern Ukraine, Donbas battalion commander Semyon Semenchenko said.
"Mortar attacks are continuing in Shirokine near Mariupol. 'Donbas' battalion units defending Shirokine are sustaining losses. Three people have been wounded today. All of them have been evacuated to a hospital in Mariupol. Since the truce took effect the 'Donbas' battalion has lost three fighters and nine have been wounded. Our artillery has been observing the regime," Semenchenko wrote on Facebook.
The Ukrainian organization Defense of Mariupol earlier said that Ukrainian positions in Shirokine had come under fire, losing 22 servicemen. It said the military positions in Shirokine outside Mariupol were shelled twice by tanks on Sunday in violation of the cease-fire.
"Five Ukrainian personnel were killed, all of them volunteers of the Azov regiment, and 22 were wounded, among them four servicemen and 18 Azov regiment members," the Defense of Mariupol said on Facebook.