The situation on the contact line remains tense.
In the Donetsk direction, the enemy used artillery, mortars, various grenade launchers, and small arms. Two artillery ordnances and 118 mortar shells of 120-mm and 82-mm calibre were launched on 18 localities.
In the Mariupol direction, the enemy attacked five localities, having launched 95 mortar rounds of 120-mm and 82-mm calibres on the settlements.
In the Gorlovka direction, the AFU units targeted three localities with grenade launchers and small arms.
In total, over the past 24 hours, 47 violations of the ceasefire regime by the Ukrainian Armed Forces were recorded.
Today, from 7 to 8 am, AFU's punishers, led by deputy commander of the 1st mountain infantry battalion of the 128 separate mountain infantry brigade, Major A.I. Shevchenko, launcher mortar shelling of Zaitsevo's streets, along which the children were walking to school. The shelling was conducted using 82-mm mortars. Five mortar rounds were launched.
By a lucky chance, and also due to the skilful actions of the children, who immediately took cover behind nearby buildings after the bombardment started - no one was hurt.
These facts show that Ukrainian punishers do not simply shell the residential areas of the DPR, but hunt for our children! This is the terrorist essence of the Ukrainian army, which is fighting against the inhabitants of Donbass.
In addition, in order to justify the criminal actions of the AFU and try to save the face at the Minsk negotiations, the Ukrainian authorities spread false reports about attacks by the DPR Armed Forces on the territory controlled by the Ukrainian security forces. Which is not true! These statements are made on the eve of the talks in Minsk, and are a provocation against the Republic.
AFU war criminals from and punitive battalions are inspired by the false statements of the current authorities, including the impunity of their crimes.
Thus, shelling with the use of 120 and 82-mm mortar shells, conducted yesterday at 4.30 pm against Bezymennoyesettlement was conducted under the personal supervision of the commander of the 11th motorized infantry battalion of 59 separate mechanized infantry brigade Fedchenko V.P.
At that, as it became known to our reconnaissance service, the chief of the missile and artillery armament service of the 11 separate mechanised infantry battalion and of 59 separate mechanised infantry brigade major O. Soldatov sells arms and ammunition to the nationalist battalion "Aratta", stationed in Mariupol.
Taking advantage of his official position and covering himself with help of bombardments, O. Soldatov writes off ammunition for mortars and small arms in quantities that exceed those used in the shelling. And also, being in collusion with the battalion commander, writes off machine guns and automatic gun, allegedly destroyed as a result of shelling by our Republic.
According to our data, this method of obtaining weapons and ammunition remains the only possible option for nationalist units whose support and cover from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine has clearly decreased recently.
According to our data, this practice is effective not only in the 59 separate mechanised infantry brigade, but also in other divisions and units of the AFU located in the so-called 'ATO' zone.
In addition, according to our data, in the zone of the so-called 'ATO', the 71 mobile radio-electronic reconnaissance center is working hard.
At that, contrary to their purpose, they do not conduct reconnaissance, but are engaged in a simple surveillance of the local population, which is very far from the contact line. Radio monitoring materials leak for SBU representatives in order to conduct detention on their basis.
Official translation by DONi News Agency
Vice-Commander of the DPR Defense Ministry operative command Donetsk,Colonel Eduard Basurin