Militants Shell Avdiivka: Eight Ukrainian Soldiers Wounded, Train Traffic Delayed

An industrial base where Ukrainian servicemen are stationed came under fire.

Hybrid forces of the Russian Federation and the terrorist organization “DNR,” from territories not controlled by the Ukrainian government, shelled Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast. As a result of the shelling, nine soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were wounded.

It is known that the militants fired weapons banned by the Minsk agreements, and Ukrzaliznytsia trains will run on limited routes for at least three days.

Shelling of Avdiivka

As said head of the Avdiivka Military-Civil Administration Vitaliy Barabash, during the separatist shelling an industrial base housing Ukrainian military personnel and residential houses was damaged, and electrical equipment was also hit.

“As a result of the shelling, an industrial base housing military personnel was damaged. It is next to five-story buildings; as for civilian infrastructure, a little was hit in terms of electricity,” Barabash said.

Barabash noted that the shelling took place in two stages: the first lasted from 6:15 a.m. to 7:50 a.m., the second from 8:50 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

As reported by the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group, during today's shelling of the Avdiivka area and the city itself, eight Ukrainian servicemen were wounded and sustained combat injuries.

During the shelling, the enemy used mortars and artillery of 120 mm and 122 mm caliber, respectively, which is prohibited by the Minsk agreements.

The enemy did not respond to demands from the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) to cease fire. It is reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine returned “adequate” fire.

It is noted that the enemy's goal was to provoke the Ukrainian Armed Forces into an “inadequate” response, then declare on its side “... aggressive actions by Ukraine,” create tension, and disrupt the relevant talks between the President of Ukraine and the President of the United States on further ways to settle the conflict, including on the issue of US participation in such a settlement.

Corresponding notes have been sent to the OSCE via the TCG and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

An extraordinary meeting of the Security Subgroup is not planned, since Russia's “quite predictable” answer, the word “no,” has already been received twice in recent weeks, when Ukraine demanded such a meeting in response to the deaths and injuries of Ukrainian servicemen.

The group also separately warned Ukrainian citizens that, against the backdrop of and during President Zelensky's visit to the United States, enemy combat activity may increase further, and that they need to be “situationally and morally ready.”

The Ukrainian delegation reminds the Russian occupiers that the ceasefire agreement of July 22, 2020 provides (under paragraph “e”) for permission to open return fire.

Ukrzaliznytsia's reaction

Due to artillery shelling from territory not controlled by Ukraine, train traffic in Donetsk Oblast near Avdiivka station has been temporarily restricted.

For safety reasons, over the next three days passenger and suburban trains will run on limited routes to Pokrovsk and Ocheretyne stations.

Thus, train No. 136 Kyiv — Avdiivka will run to Pokrovska station through August 30 inclusive. Passengers will be transported by bus between Pokrovska and Avdiivka and back.

Suburban train traffic and train No. 826 Dnipro — Avdiivka are restricted to Ocheretyne station until August 30.

As a reminder, the shelling began on the morning of August 28. Avdiivka station workers and passengers were evacuated to shelters. There are no injured railway workers.