The situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remains tense, with attacks and shelling still continuing there, Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, has said.
“The ATO (anti-terrorist operation) positions in Debaltseve, Luhansk and Donetsk remain the most targeted areas,” Lysenko said at a briefing in Kyiv on Monday, Nov. 17.
The enemy has also increased its forces and equipment near the village of Pisky, and the towns of Maryinka, Krasnohorivka and Avdiyivka in Donetsk region, he said.
The Ukrainian army positions near Mariupol came under fire twice from Grad rockets between the villages of Chermalyk and Mykolayivka and an army post near the towns of Hranitne and Pavlopil was fired on with artillery, mortars and small-arms.
The situation in Mariupol proper remains quiet and under control, Lysenko said.
The armed groups opposing the Ukrainian army have tried to seize control over the Bakhmutka highway connecting Luhansk and Severodonetsk, he said.
“This is an important stretch because control over this highway would enable militants to create a western threat to the ATO forces defending the town of Schastia. The Luhansk thermal power plant will also be under threat,” Lysenko said.
