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Ukrainian military launch more than 400 mines on Donetsk Republic

Under fire were 16 settlements, he said. The republic’s reconnaissance saw in Mironovka - 13 km north of Gorlovka, Grad launchers

DONETSK, March 8. /TASS/. Units of the Ukrainian military over the past 24 hours launched more than 400 mines on the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), spokesman of the republic’s command Eduard Basurin said on Wednesday.

"Here is the amount of weapons, outlawed by the Minsk agreements, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used against the republic: heavy artillery - 81 shells, mortars of various calibers - 407 mines, tanks - 12 shells," the spokesman said. "The military also used armored vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers, and small arms."

Under fire were 16 settlements, he said. The republic’s reconnaissance saw in Mironovka - 13 km north of Gorlovka, Grad launchers. Other MLRS Grad systems were seen in Nikonorovka, which is 46km from the front line, west of Gorlovka, he added.

Since the autumn of 2014, members of the Contact Group on settling the situation in eastern Ukraine have announced ceasefires in Donbass more than ten times. However, the Ukrainian military have been repeatedly violating ceasefires, particularly using large caliber guns, mortars and tanks that should be withdrawn from the line of contact in accordance with the Minsk agreements.

At the recent meeting of the Contact Group, held on March 1, the parties agreed to resume the weapons withdrawal process on March 7.