The situation in the anti-terrorist operation zone in Donbas remains tense, battle actions are held in the M (Mariupol) sector, Ukrainian presidential administration spokesman Andriy Lysenko said at a briefing in Kyiv on July 30.
“Battle actions resumed in the Mariupol direction – in the evening militants shot at our positions east of Starohnativka with 122mm cannons and a tank. At the same time, use of tanks by illegal armed formations was registered near Hranitne. There were two armed provocations to the south, in Mykolaivka and Chermalyk,” Lysenko said. There were no battle actions at the front line from Pavlopil to Shyrokyne, he said.
“The situation is getting worse near Horlivka, the intensity of enemy fire and frequency of cannon use is increasing. The highest number of shootings by illegal armed formations is registered in Mykolaivka, Mayorsk and Leninske. The enemy is firing at positions of the anti-terrorist operation forces from all types of arms, except for rocket launchers,” Lysenko said.
According to Lysenko, the enemy has become quite active in Pervomaisk. Positions of Ukrainian servicemen at the turn of Popasna-Troitske came under fire from anti-aircraft mounts, mortar launchers, tanks and cannons; all incidents took place at night, he said.
“The situation has not changed in the Donetsk area; shooting and provocations continue along the entire front line from Avdiyivka to Maryinka. Militants use mine waste and green space – forests, parks and even cemeteries in four western districts of Donetsk – to correct fire,” Lysenko said.
Grenade launches near the village of Luhanska took place in the evening, the official said. The situation north of Bakhmutska highway continues to escalate and Ukrainian positions came under fire from grenade launchers twice from Krymske.
