You're reading: Ukraine reports 60 attacks on its positions in Donbas, one killed, one injured

Illegal armed formations opened fire 60 times targeting positions of Ukrainian troops on March 17, the press service of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) headquarters said.

“Since the beginning of the day, the Russian terrorist troops have attacked Ukrainian army positions 60 times. Heavy weapons were used among other equipment,” it said on Facebook on the evening of March 17.

One Ukrainian serviceman was killed and another one injured in an explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED), it said.

In addition, in the Mariupol sector, Ukraine’s adversary carried out fire on Ukrainian strong points near Lebedynske, Shyrokyne, Hnutove and Vodiane, using mortars and 122mm artillery systems and 120mm mortars on the positions near Talakivka and Chermalyk. Various systems of grenade launchers were used to shell positions near Maryinka, it said.

In the Donetsk sector, instances of shelling grew dramatically near Avdiyivka on the afternoon of March 17. Weapons used there included heavy weapons, tanks and 120m mortars. Several shells hit the area of Avdiyivka’s old part. Illegal armed formations fired 82mm mortars on Ukrainian position near Opytne and 122mm artillery systems, SPG grenade launchers, and the weapons mounted on infantry fighting vehicles near Luhanske, according to the ATO HQ.

In the Luhansk sector, the Ukrainian positions near Novozvanivka were shelled by SPG grenade launchers and antitank missile systems, while the positions near Valuiske came under fire from small arms, it said.

Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another eight injured in the ATO zone in Donbas in the previous 24 hours, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Andriy Lysenko said earlier on March 17.