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Donbass military says Ukrainian forces try to break through DPR positions

DPR command says the military clash took place in the immediate vicinity of the Donetsk-Gorlovka strategic highway, casualties were reported

© EPA/ANASTASIA VLASOVA

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DPR militia reports Kiev forces shelling Donbass villages overnight

MOSCOW, May 26. /TASS/. Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine made an attempt on Thursday to break through the positions of the forces of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in an area between the cities of Avdeyevka and Yasinovataya (Donetsk agglomeration), a representative of the DPR operational command told the Donetsk News Agency.

"The command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces made an attempt at 12:00 to break through in the area of Avdeyevka, casualties have been reported," the source said. The military clash took place in the immediate vicinity of the Donetsk-Gorlovka strategic highway.

"I’d like to particularly emphasize that as a result of another criminal order of the Ukrainian military-political leadership, the 58th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked our positions in the afternoon in the area of the Avdeyevka industrial zone. Six killed military servicemen and about 10 wounded are upon the conscience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ command," DPR defense spokesman Eduard Basurin said.

DPR sources reported earlier that the Ukrainian forces again opened fire overnight on the territory of the republic, including from mortars. The northern suburb of Donetsk and the Yasinovataya checkpoint on the Donetsk-Gorlovka highway came under fire.

Members of the Contact Group on settling the situation in east Ukraine agreed on observing Easter ceasefire starting from April 30. However, the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk republics (DPR and LPR) and Kiev forces continue accusing each other of violating the ceasefire regime in Donbass.

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