Militia report offensive by Ukrainian military, fighting is going on at Donetsk airport
MOSCOW. Nov 6 (Interfax) - The militia of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic believe the Ukrainian military have begun an offensive in the region.
"The military situation in the region was aggravated in the past few hours. We have registered an attempt made by the enemy's tanks to break through to Donetsk airport from Makiyivka. Fighting is going on," the DPR Defense Ministry has reported.
Additionally, the militia said the Ukrainian military are also on the offensive near the populated area of Peski.
"Heavy armored vehicles are moving in the Peski area. We are repelling a large-scale offensive by the Ukrainian troops," the source said.
Vladislav Seleznyov, spokesman for the military operation in eastern Ukraine, for his part, said the militia is firing at the Donetsk airport using cannons and that three Ukrainian troops had been killed in the zone of the special operation on Thursday and another four had been wounded.
"They started firing at the Donetsk airport using Rapira 100 mm cannons at 2:30 p.m. One paratrooper was killed in the fight," Seleznyov told reporters on Thursday.
The militants opened fire on other positions as well during the day, he said. "Mainly at the place where the guys are located in the area of the 31st checkpoint. They are working hard. We are responding," Seleznyov said.
Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), said earlier that nine servicemen have been wounded in eastern Ukraine in the past 24 hours. "None of our servicemen have been killed but nine have suffered injuries," Lysenko said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.
Lysenko said the militia is the most active on the Donetsk track, where they have opened fire on positions in the area of the populated areas of Peski, Maryinka, Avdiyivka, Taramchuk, Novokalinovo, Orlovka, and Mayorsk. In addition, the militia has opened fire on the Ukrainian positions in the area of the populated areas of Debaltsevo, Leninskoye, Uglegorsk, Kamenka, Orlovo-Ivanovka on the Debaltsevo track. On the section between Volnovakha and Mariupol, they have opened fire on the Ukrainian forces' positions near the villages of Staroignatovka, Novolaspa, and Granitnoye, he said.
According to Lysenko, the militia has opened fire on the Ukrainian forces' positions near the populated area of Olkhovy and Stary Aidar using artillery and firearms. On the Pervomaisk track, the Ukrainian military's positions near the populated areas of Chernukhino, Mius, Frunze, Krymskoye, Zolotoye, and Gornoye have come under fire, Lysenko said.
Lysenko reiterated that Ukrainian troops always shoot to kill when they have confirmed information on the location of the enemy's firing points.
