The Ukrainian security forces have taken full control of most of the populated areas near Luhansk and are installing new roadblocks near Donetsk, Vladyslav Selezniov, a spokesman for the anti-terrorist operation in southeastern Ukraine, said on Facebook on Saturday.
“Ukrainian military servicemen are continuing their work on blocking militants in the Donetsk area and are completing the installation of new roadblocks,” Selezniov said.
Security forces are continuing active operations in other areas as well, Selezniov said. In particular, National Guard units have taken control of Siversk in Donetsk region and a number of communities near Luhansk and have completed their examination, he said.
Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council information and analysis center, said militants have tried to launch counteroffensives in some areas.
“There is confrontation there. Militants have also tried counteroffensives in an attempt to win back what they have lost,” Lysenko said at a news conference on Saturday.
In particular, battles are under way near the village of Zelenopillia, Luhansk region, he said.
“An armed standoff is continuing near Zelenopillia. The reason is that the border is not far from there,” Lysenko said. “It’s hard there now,” Lysenko said, adding that the Ukrainian servicemen deployed there are receiving aerial and ground assistance.
It was reported earlier that Ukrainian armed forces units had been shelled from BM-21 Grad rocket launchers near Zelenopillia last night. A previous Grad attack near Zelenopillia killed at least 23 Ukrainian troops.
The press service of the Donbas fuel and energy company reported that mines hit the Maryinsky power grid district in the early hours of July 12.
“The power grid district building and the switchboard have been damaged, and cable routes and relay towers have been destroyed. The power grid district personnel has not been harmed and has been evacuated,” Donetskoblenergo reported.
A new working station for the operator is being prepared now outside the combat area.
