In the last 24 hours there was the highest number of attacks in ATO zone of Lugansk and Donetsk region from the side of terrorists. In total they shelled Ukrainian positions 127 times. At about 4 am in Mariupol direction 400 terrorists of so-called Donetsk People’s Republic tried to storm Ukrainian positions at Starohnativka with the support of 122 mm artillery, tanks and APC. This attack was stopped by 72nd Brigade and the enemy was pushed back. By 6:15 am Ukrainian soldiers captured terrorists positions at Novolaspa, but later they went back to follow Minsk Agreements. According to Commanding Officer Sergey Misura Ukrainian Army lost 1 soldier killed and 4 wounded in that battle. Terrorists lost over 100 killed.

Here is how Ukrainian reporter Andriy Tsaplienko describes the battle.

03:56 am instead of “good morning”. In the area of Starohnativka (30 km from Volnovakha) terrorists moved their infantry units on the positions of 72nd Brigade. Aleksandr Samarskiy, Deputy Commander of 72nd Brigade, said “Right now we have contact fight… 1st they were shelling our checkpoint… Later they started to shell our positions and the village. There is destruction. We opened fire in return, after that enemy infantry moved at our positions.”

04:53 am Russian attack was stopped. Units of 72nd Brigade started counter-attack near Starohnativka trying to enter enemy positions.

06:15 am Ukrainian troops took Novolaspa. This was the 1st time since Feb 2015 when ATO forces took the village that was controlled by Donetsk People’s Republic, reports Andriy Tsaplienko.

Sergey Misura later reported that Ukrainian troops returned to their positions near Starohnativka in order not to violate Minsk Agreements.

ATO Press Center also reported that in the last 24 hours in ATO zone there was the highest number of attacks on Ukrainian Army positions. Terrorists of so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic violated Minsk cease-fire agreements 127 times.

Starting from 6 pm till midnight terrorists were shelling Ukrainian positions almost all along the contact line.

Near Donetsk at about 6 pm terrorists shelled Ukrainian fortifications near Novgorodske using mortars and automatic weapon. Avdiivka was shelled twice by 120 mm mortars and by tanks at about midnight.

Starting from 7 pm almost till 1 am terrorists used 122 mm artillery shelling Krasnohorivka.

From 9:40 pm till 10 pm terrorists attacked Troitske village from their positions at Kalynove using MRLS BM-21 “Grad”. After that they also shelled the village using 120 mm mortars. Also at 9:45 pm terrorists used MRLS “Grad” attacking Ukrainian positions at Rozsadki village.

Krymske village was shelled by mortars and 122 mm artillery 4 times from 11 pm till 1 am.