Rebels claim Ukrainians pound Donetsk city with artillery
2015-04-08
Posted by: badanov
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By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
Ukrainian artillery strikes hit key regions in Donetsk on Saturday killing two and wounding two rebel soldiers.
According to a news account posted on regnum.ru, Ukrainian artillery hit Donetsk city with a massive artillery strike centered on the Donetsk airport and the settlement of Octyabrskiy using 152mm tube artillery.
The news report, citing Donetsk Ministry of Defense sources, said that residential homes were set alight by the artillery, causing some undisclosed civilian casualties.
On Sunday, Ukrainian artillery hit the localities of Gorlovka, Spartak, Shirokino and the Donetsk airport.
Rebel media said at least one artillery round hit a residential area in Donetsk and the artillery had originated from Ukrainian held areas of Peski and Avdievka. A nocturnal firefight took place late on Saturday night between forces in Spartak and Vinogradnoye. Rebels currently hold Spartak.
A separate rebel media summary said that for the second time in four days Ukrainian artillery hit the Volvo Center in Donetsk city with both mortar and tank shells originating from Peski.
The summary also said the artillery hit on Octyabrskiy originated from Opytnoye. Ukrainian artillery hit the Donetsk airport from Opytnoye and Peski.
In nearly every summary posted online, rebels continue to claim that their forces did not respond to the attacks.
However, translated videos posted online by rebel media show rebels firing on Ukrainian positions using small arms.
Ukrainian military analyst Dmitri Tymchuk said in a report posted online that rebel forces shelled a number of Ukrainian army positions in Donetsk and near Mariupol.
According to Tymchuk, rebel artillery hit Opytnoye using small arms, automatic grenade launcher, recoilless rifle and 82mm mortar fire. Avdievka was hit by small arms and 82mm mortar fire as well.
Tymchuk said that rebel 82mm mortars struck targets at Chermalyk, which is about 15 kilometers due north of Shirokino.
Chris Covert writes about foreign military issues for Rantburg.com. He can be reached at grurkka@gmail.com. You can read past articles about the 2014 war in southeastern Ukraina by clicking here.
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