DONETSK. Jan 26 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) has seen six attacks by the Ukrainian army in the past 24 hours, two militiamen are dead, and one has suffered injuries, a spokesman for the DPR operative command told the press.
"The Ukrainian army breached the truce six times over the day. The army shelled the vicinity of five populated localities, using 120mm and 82mm mortars, various types of grenade launchers, and heavy firearms," the command spokesman said.
Militia positions near Verkhnotoretske came under intense fire of grenade launchers and heavy firearms on Thursday, the spokesman said, adding that over 50 shells were fired. "Two DPR servicemen were killed, and one suffered injuries. The gunfire was coming from the positions of the 25th separate airborne brigade of the Ukrainian Army in the northeastern part of Verkhnotoretske. I am officially informing you that our servicemen strictly complied with the ceasefire," he said.
These violations prove that Kyiv wants to thwart the ceasefire agreements, the spokesman said. "We demand that the Ukrainian violations be recorded imminently and urge the OSCE SMM to confirm those facts for the purpose of notifying the international public and putting the entire responsibility for the escalating tensions on the Ukrainian army command and the Ukrainian administration," he said.
In turn, Kyiv reported three militia attacks and injuries of two servicemen. "Two servicemen were injured in the line of duty. They were rushed to a hospital and given medical aid," the staff of the Ukrainian army operation said on Facebook.
The staff said the militia opened fire in the Donetsk sector and the Azov Sea area.