Donetsk, Aug 29 - DAN. A Ukrainian special operations team advanced to DPR positions on the Gorlovka axis overnight to Thursday to engage the Republic’s forces, the Donetsk People’s Republic People’s Militia reported.

“We recorded increased reconnaissance by enemy drones and special operations teams on the Gorlovka axis. Today, our defenders fought an unequal battle with one of such groups. We have stood our ground,” the report said.

One DPR militiaman was killed in the shootout and one was seriously wounded. Three militiamen are missing; a search is underway.

“Importantly, the inspection of the defendant’s body found that he was missing an ear; the nature of the wound shows that it was cut off when he was already dead. We do not rule out that it was done by the special operations team which collected a trophy to prove that they had killed a militiaman, the DPR People’s Militia said.*jk