Combined forces of Russian-backed militants and Russian troops on January 1 continued violating the ceasefire, which was agreed from December 23 in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, and mounted five targeted attacks on Ukrainian army positions, according to the press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters.

"No Ukrainian soldiers were killed or wounded in enemy shelling," the ATO HQ said in its update on January 2.

Areas near the village of Luhanske in the Luhansk sector came under 82mm mortar fire. The enemy also used large-caliber machine guns. Ukrainian positions near the Ukrainian-controlled strategic port city of Mariupol were a hot spot in the Donetsk sector. In particular, the enemy opened fire from proscribed 120mm mortars along with 82mm mortars and infantry weapons to attack Ukrainian troops stationed outside the village of Pavlopil. Grenade launchers of various types and small arms were used to shell Ukrainian strongholds near the village of Vodiane. The enemy lobbed over ten 82mm shells into areas where the Ukrainian army was deployed near the village of Verkhniotoretske. They also opened fire from grenade launchers and small arms.

UNIAN