KYIV/DONETSK. Jan 30 (Interfax) - The militiamen are conducting shellings of the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces using proscribed weapons near the city of Avdiivka, the Donetsk region, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said.
"Last night the situation was a lot calmer, but the active phase began this morning. The enemy is conducting shellings from proscribed weapons, in particular, tanks and artillery," Poltorak said on Monday.
He said that an "assault operation" of the militiamen lasted the entire day.
The minister also said that the Ukrainian servicemen have seized a stronghold of the militiamen.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said earlier that five servicemen were killed and another 14 injured in the military operation zone in the past 24 hours, and the overwhelming majority of losses occurred during hostilities in Avdiivka.
The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Defense Ministry, in turn, told Interfax on Monday that the Ukrainian servicemen have conducted heavy shelling at Donetsk among others from the positions in Avdiivka.