Donetsk, Feb 9 – DAN. Ukrainian forces shelled DPR territory 711 times over the past 24 hours, DPR Operations Command deputy commander Eduard Basurin said on Thursday.

“The situation in the Donetsk People’s Republic remains tense. Ukrainian forces shelled DPR territory 711 times over the past 24 hours, using heavy artillery 17 times, mortars 163 times, infantry fighting vehicle cannons 75 times, and anti-aircraft guns, grenade launchers and small arms 454 times,” Basurin said.

He said the enemy continued to deliver fire at DPR neighbourhoods. Kiev forces again shelled Zaitsevo village outside Gorlovka, Yasinovataya and its neighbouring Spartak, Krasny Partizan and Krutaya Balka villages.

Donetsk outskirts (Staromikhailovka and Aleksandrovka villages, Petrovskiy district and airport area) came under fire as well. Ukrainian forces targeted Kominternovo, Leninskoye, Sakhanka and Oktyabr villages in DPR south. On this axis, DPR intelligence revealed the location of eight Ukrainian Grad MLRS and six Uragan MLRS in Kiev-controlled Prokhorovka village (outside Volnovakha, 13.5 km from the contact line).

Earlier reports said Ukrainian forces shelled six DPR frontline areas since Wednesday evening. Kominternovo village was left without gas and power supply as a result of shelling; seven buildings were damaged there. Mayorsk checkpoint outside Gorlovka also came under Ukrainian forces fire. *jk