Donetsk, Feb 7 – DAN. Ukrainian forces opened fire at DPR territory more than 600 times over the past 24 hours, DPR Operations Command deputy commander Eduard Basurin told reporters on Tuesday.

“Ukrainian forces targeted DPR territory 607 times over the past 24 hours, using heavy artillery 90 times, mortars 221 times, tank guns 13 times, and 23mm anti-aircraft guns, grenade launchers and small arms 281 times,” Basurin said.

The worst situation is in Donetsk area. Kiev forces shelled Yakovlevka, Spartak, Zhabichevo and Krutaya Balka villages in Yasinovatskiy district, the airport area, and Donetsk’s Kievskiy and Petrovskiy districts.

Basurin said Ukrainian army massed up to 13 tanks in Maryinka (west of Donetsk), and deployed two Akatsia self-propelled howitzers to Novomikhailovka village, Maryinskiy district. In Novokalinovo outside Yasinovataya, Kiev forces reinforced their positions with three Grad multiple launch rocket systems, and another eight Grads were deployed to Ivanovka area, 37 kilometers west of Donetsk.

Zaitsevao and Krutaya Balka villages outside Gorlovka came under fire as well. DPR intelligence spotted six Ukrainian self-propelled howitzers on this axis in vicinity of Kiev-controlled Ivanopolye village.

Ukrainian forces shelled Dokuchyevsk, a town south of DPR capital, and deployed two Grad MLRS in Kiev-controlled Greek village of Sartana.

Donbass conflict escalated in late January 2017 as Ukrainian forces launched an offensive on all axes. Dozens of military and civilians casualties were reported, and houses and infrastructure facilities sustained damage. According to DPR Operations Command, Ukrainian army has been unable to advance deep into DPR territory. *jk