Day 1177: Fighting Escalates; 1 Ukrainian Soldier Killed by IED, 9 Soldiers WIA; Civilian Woman Injured

Photo: Ukrainian soldiers and villagers celebrate Victory Day at a war memorial. Photo by ATO

Fighting escalated today with heavy attacks and casualties.

Russia-backed forces attacked Ukrainian positions 50 times, Unian.net reported, citing the ATO [Anti-Terrorist Operation] morning dispatch.

One Ukrainian soldier was killed near Slavne by a UID and 9 wounded, Col. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said at his press briefing today, including 5 in Pavlopol, 2 in Avdeyevka, 1 in Kamenets and one in Troitskoye. He said the situation was most agitated at the Gorlovka (Horlivka) permieter and near Avdeyevka (Avdiivka) as well as near Pavlopol (Pavlopil) where shelling went on for over two hours.

A 51-year-old woman in Maryinka suffered a gunshot wound while working in her garden, Unian reported, citing the National Police Facebook post. She was hospitalized in Kurakhovo and is expected to recover.

On the Donetsk line, separatists fired 82-mm and 120-mm mortars on ATO positions near Kamenki; 120-mm mortars were used on Nevelskoye and Troitskoye and grenade-launchers on Luganskoye. Near Verkhnyetoretskoye, 82-mm and 120-mm mortars and grenade-launchers were used. Militants fired 82-mm and 120-mm mortars on Ukrainian positions near Avdeyevka as well as grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns. Near Zaytsevo and Peski, they fired 82-mm mortars, grenade-launchers and small arms and used an armed BMP. Ukrainian positions at Novgoroskoye were attacked with heavy machine guns and small arms.

On the Maritime line, 82-mm and 120-mm mortars as well as grenade-launchers and small arms were fired on Pavlopol; 120-mm mortars and 122-mm artillery were fired on Gnutovo along with grenade-launchers and small arms. At Vodyanoye, 82-mm mortars, an armed BMP, grenade-launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms were used. Ukrainian positions at Krasnogorovka were pounded by 82-m and 120-mm mortars, grenade-launchers and heavy machine guns, and Shirokino and Chermalik were attacked with grenade-launchers. Positions near Maryinka was shelled with 82-mm mortars and anti-tank grenades. Militants fired small arms at Ukrainian positions at Granitnoye. Snipers were active near Novotroitskoye.

On May 7, Russia-backed militants, one of whom shot an AK-47 in the air, did not permit the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission access to the village of Sosnovskoye in the Mariupol area, Unian reported, citing an OSCE report May 8. Later about 10 militants approached the team and said that they could not enter the area as de-mining was in progress.

On the Lugansk line, 122-artillery was fired on Novozvanovka; 120-mm mortars and automatic grenades were fired on Krymskoye; and 82-mm mortars and grenade-launchers pouned Troitskoye. Anti-tank grenades were used to attack Zhyoltoye, and grenade-launchers and smal arms were fired on Stanitsa Luganskaya and Valuyskoye; small arms were fired near Donets. 

Ukrainian forces returned fire in some cases, commanders said.

Ukrainian soldiers and civilians celebrated World War II Victory Day at war memorials in front-line towns.

The separatist news service Dan-News said that three civilians were wounded from Ukrainian shelling on the village of Bezymyonnoye in Novoazovsky District to the south of Donetsk during a May Day parade. No details were provided.

Homes were also said to be damaged but only archival photos were provided.

— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick

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