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Defense Ministry claims Ukrainian Army did not shell checkpoint

Kiev laid blame for attack on militants
Acting as Minister of Defence of Ukraine Mikhail of Koval ITAR-TASS/Maxim Nikitin
Acting as Minister of Defence of Ukraine Mikhail of Koval
© ITAR-TASS/Maxim Nikitin

KIEV, June 20, /ITAR-TASS/. Ukrainian Defense Ministry issued a statement claiming “Ukrainian military have not been using artillery of mortars” in the areas adjoining the Ukrainian-Russian border.

As reported earlier, Russia's Novoshakhtinsk border checkpoint in the southern Rostov region underwent shelling by mortars from the Ukrainian territory at around 18:40 Moscow Standard Time, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Buildings, infrastructure facilities and communication lines at the checkpoint have been partially destroyed or damaged.

A spokesman for the Rostov region branch of the Federal Customs Service said a customs officer had been wounded. He cited physicians describing the officer’s wounds as very severe.

The Novoshakhtinsk automobile checkpoint is a large customs terminal through which trucks cross the border and all types of trade supplies, including agriculture produce, are delivered from Ukraine to Russia and the other way round.