3 Ukrainian Soldiers Wounded; Russia-Backed Forces Fire Grad Missiles on Avdeyevka

Apartment building in Avdeyevka (Avdiivka) damaged by shelling from Russia-backed forces. March 11, 2017. Screen grab from video by ATO

Ukraine Day 1119: LIVE UPDATES BELOW. Three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in fighting today and Russia-backed forces fired Grad missiles on Avdeyevka.

Yesterday’s live coverage of the Ukraine conflict can be found here.

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3 Ukrainian Soldiers Wounded; Russia-Backed Forces Fire Grad Missiles on Avdeyevka

2017-03-13 03:22:53

In its morning dispatch, the Ukrainian ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] reported 75 attacks from Russia-backed forces on its positions in the previous 12 hours.

Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed near Mariupol as a result of a clash with a Russia-backed diversionary and reconnaissance group (DRG), as we reported yesterday. Col. Andriy Lysenko, spokesman on ATO issues, said that while Ukrainian troops were able to repel the DRG, they suffered the loss of the two soldiers; and one was wounded near Avdeyevka, ZN.ua reported.

Heavy artillery were used to attack Nikolayevka and mortar-launchers were fired on Slavnoye, Gnutovo, Pavlopol and Beryozovoye. Small arms and heavy machine guns were also used.

In its evening dispatch at 18:00, the ATO reported more than 30 incidents of shelling mainly on the Mariupol line, where militants used small arm, grenade-launchers and 82-mm mortar launchers as well as a tank to fire on Maryinka.

On the Donetsk line, militans used small arms, heavy machine guns, grenade-launchers and later 82-mm mortar launchers to fire on Avdeyevka. A sniper fired on Novotroitskoye and a BMP fired at Zaytsevo.

Near Luganskoye, 82-mm and 120-mm mortar launchers as well as grenade-launchers were fired on positions near Mayorsk.

On the Lugansk line, small arms were fired on Valuyskoye.

The ATO also reported on its Facebook page in the evening that from 19:00 to 21:15, Russia-backed forces attacked Avdeyevka, to the north of Donetsk, with BM-21 Grad missiles, firing more than 10 missiles at Ukrainian positions.

The ATO also uploaded a video showing Russia-backed shelling of apartment buildings in Avdeyevka (Avdiivka).

Tanks fired at least five shells on the multi-story apartment buildings in the south edge of the city; shelling also damaged private homes, ZN.ua reported. No civilians were hurt.

Once again, Avdeyevka is without electricity and is supplied by generators. Water supply is temporary halted and cell service is intermittent.

— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick

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