LUHANSK. July 4 (Interfax) - Ukrainian troops have reduced the intensity of shell attacks on the territory of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) after the so-called 'bread truce' was enacted along the contact line in Donbas on June 24, Andrei Marochko, spokesman for the LPR's militia, said.
"The truce lasted no more than half an hour and was violated by the Ukrainian side near Stanytsia Luhanska. Of course, the truce is not being observed but the number of provocations and attacks from the Ukrainian side have considerably decreased, which gives us the right to suppose that the adversary will nevertheless start performing his obligations," Marochko told reporters on Tuesday.
Ukrainian forces shelled LPR territory three times in the past 24 hours, according to the LPR defense ministry. "The attacks were on the positions of our forces near the populated areas of Kalynove, Kalynivka and Frunze. According to the defense ministry of the LPR, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used 88 mm mortars, automatic grenade launchers and small arms in the attacks. In total, they fired 13 mortar shells and grenades targeting the territory of the republic," he said.
"We are not succumbing to provocations from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and are strictly observing the regime of calm," Marochko added.