Timeline of the war in Donbas (2020)

This is a timeline of the war in Donbas for the year 2020.

January–March 10 January: The Ukrainian operational headquarters reported that pro-Russian forces had broken the ceasefire 13 times on 10 January.Donbas war update: three Ukrainian troops injured in enemy shelling - UNIAN - 10 January 2020 In the eastern front, Vodiane was shelled from Pikuzy with 82 mm mortars. Ukrainian positions at Marinka, Nevelske, Vodiane and Novotroitske also received fire from small arms and automatic grenade launchers. In the northern area of operations, pro-Russian 122 mm self-propelled artillery from Zolote-5 fired upon Ukrainian redoubts around Orikhove supported by small arms, grenades launchers, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars. Luhanske was meanwhile hit by anti-tank rocket fire and 82 mm mortar volleys fired from Lohvynove. Novotoshkivke became the target of 120 mm mortars firing from Holubovske, while pro-Russian forces from Gagarin fired anti-tank rockets at Pivdenne. 16 January: The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded 12 pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire on 16 January; one Ukrainian soldier was killed in action.Ukraine reports one KIA amid 12 enemy attacks in Donbas on Jan 16 UNIAN - 17 January 2020 In the eastern area of operations, Ukrainian positions at Novotroitske received harassing fire from infantry weapons and different grenade-launcher systems. In the northern front, pro-Russian forces launched a substantial attack on Orikhove using small arms, 120 mm mortars, 122 mm and 152 mm self-propelled artillery. Novotoshkivke was hit by 82 mm and 120 mm mortar barrages. Travneve, Mironovske, Novozvanivka, Zaitseve and Luhanske became the target of small arms, snipers and grenade launchers. 17 January: Ukraine, Russia and the rebel republics agreed in Minsk on a new disengagement area around Hnutove.Donbas settlement talks: parties agree on new disengagement area UNIAN - 17 January 2020 24 January: The Ukrainian Joint Forces press centre recorded 12 pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire on 24 January; one Ukrainian soldier was wounded.One Ukraine soldier wounded as Russia-led forces mount 10 attacks on Jan 25 UNIAN - 25 January 2020 In the eastern front, Ukrainian entrenchments at Opytne were hit by an antitank guided missile and 120 mm mortar volleys. Pavlopil and Talakivka received fire from small arms, heavy machine guns and 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles. At Pavlopil. Ukrainian troops were also harassed with sniper fire. Nevelske became the target of infantry weapons and automatic grenade launchers, while Pisky was struck by small arms fire, heavy machine gun fire and anti-tank rockets. In the northern area of operations, pro-Russian self-propelled artillery engaged Ukrainian positions at Orikhove. Luhanske received fire from heavy machine guns, grenades and rockets, and 82 mm mortars. Novoluhanske was hit by heavy machine gun fire and 73 mm ani-tank rounds. 26 January: The press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces reported 12 pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire on 26 January. Two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another two wounded.Two Ukraine soldiers killed, another two injured in Donbas since Sunday midnight UNIAN - 27 January 2020 In the eastern area of operations, pro-Russian BMP armoured vehicles from Sakhanka launched an attack on Ukrainian positions at Lebedinske, supported by grenade and rocket fire and 82 mm mortars. Krasnohorivka and Starohnativka received fire from heavy machine guns and 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, while Hnutove and Novohryhorivka became the target of small arms and different grenade-launcher systems. In the northern area of operations, Orikhove came under the combined fire of 82 mm and 120 mm mortars. Novotoshkivke and Krymske were struck by 120 mm mortar volleys. Ukrainian forces returned fire. Small arms fire was also reported inside the disengagement area around Bohdanivka. One Ukrainian soldier was killed by the blast of an improvised explosive device, and another by direct enemy fire. 18 February: Ukrainian authorities announced that pro-Russian forces launched a coordinate assault along the demarcation line in the area between Zolote and Orikhove, in the northern area of operations. Vilnyi, Novotoshkivske, Orikhove and Krymske were fired upon with infantry weapons, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars. The main engagement began at 5:00 am, when positions of the 72nd Ukrainian Brigade received the brunt of the attack. The brigade was forced to abandon their entrenchments under heavy fire from 82 mm and 120 mm mortars. One Ukrainian soldier was killed and four others wounded. The Ukrainian military eventually hold their lines by evening, although an observation post was overrun and captured by pro-Russian forces near Zolote.The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces reported 22 pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire, 19 of them in the area of the offensive. Pro-Russian tanks launched a massive assault on Ukrainian redoubts around Novotoshkivke, firing 56 main gun rounds and supported by heavy shelling from 120 mm mortars as well as 122 mm and 152 mm self-propelled artillery. Intense shelling was also recorded at Orikhove, which became the target of anti-tank rocket launchers, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars and 122 mm and 152 mm self-propelled artillery. Vilnyi received fire from heavy machine guns, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars and 122 mm self-propelled artillery. BMP armoured vehicles launched a sustained attack on Krymske supported by small arms, antitank rocket launchers, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars. Zolote-4 was attacked with heavy machine gun fire, automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank rockets, 73 mm anti-tank rounds and 120 mm mortars. Minor attacks took place in Popasna, Luhanske and Novoluhanske, where pro-Russian forces used small arms, rocket propelled grenades, 82 mm mortars and 122 mm artillery. The body of one Ukrainian soldier was recovered by pro-Russian troops and handed over to Ukrainian authorities on 20 February.The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) recorded 2,300 explosions on the front lines in eastern Ukraine before noon.OSCE SMM records over 2,300 explosions during yesterday's enemy attack in DonbasUNIAN - 19 February 2020 United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said that there is a "very real risk of backsliding and further violence" in Donbas.UN warns about "real risk of backsliding and further violence" in Donbas UNIAN - 18 February 2020 23 February: The press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded 14 pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire.Ukraine reports 14 enemy attacks in Donbas on Feb 23 UNIAN 24 February 2020 Pro-Russian forces intensified their operations on this date. In the eastern area of operations, an airstrike was carried out by a hostile drone on Ukrainian positions around Talakivka fitted with a VOG-17 grenades. In the northern front, heavy shelling was reported at Novoleksandrivka, which became the target of 120 mm mortars and 122 mm artillery. BMP-2 armoured vehicles launched an attack on Luhanske, supported by grenade launchers, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars. Krymske was hit by heavy machine gun fire, antitank rockets and 120 mm mortar volleys; 120 mm mortars were likewise fired at Orikhove. Novozvanivka, Zolote-4, Vilnyi and Popasna came under 82 mm mortar fire. 29 February: Sources from the Ukrainian Joint Forces press centre reported an escalation in fighting in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 19 times on 29 February. Three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded.Donbas war escalation: Almost 20 enemy attacks, two Ukraine soldiers wounded on Feb 29 UNIAN - 1 March 2020 Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city recorded 22 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire in 11 places the previous day. The Ukrainian military used small arms, heavy machine guns, anti-tank rocket launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers and armoured fighting vehicles. 9 March: The Ukrainian Joint Forces press centre recorded 10 pro-Russian attacks on their troops on 9 March; One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action.Ukraine reports 1 WIA amid 10 truce violations by enemy forces in Donbas over past day UNIAN - 10 March According to the same sources, pro-Russian forces launched an airstrike on a military ambulance near Talakivka using drones fitted with VOG-17 grenades.Russia-led forces strike Ukraine medical vehicle in Donbas (Photo) UNIAN - 9 March 2020 10 March: According to the headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, pro-Russian forces launched 17 attacks on Ukrainian positions. Three Ukrainian soldiers were confirmed dead, two by an anti-tank guided missile near Pisky and another by mortar fire. Nine servicemen were wounded.Escalation in Donbas: Three Ukrainian troops killed, nine wounded UNIAN - 11 March 2020 19 March: The Ukrainian Joint Forces headquarters reported 15 incidents involving hostile fire on 16 March, one Ukrainian soldier was killed in action and another wounded.Ukraine reports one KIA, one WIA amid 15 enemy attacks in Donbas on March 19 UNIAN - 20 March 2020 27 March: The spokesman of the Donetsk People's Republic army, Eduard Basurin, reported that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire 55 times during the past week. The Ukrainian army targeted 18 settlements and fired 136 rounds from 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, 185 grenades launched from different weapon-systems and an anti-tank guided missiles. Four civilians and a civilian representative at the Joint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) were wounded and 16 residential buildings were damaged. 28 March: The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded 15 attacks on their positions the previous day; two Ukrainian soldiers were severely wounded.Escalation in Donbas: 15 attacks on Ukraine army, two wounded on March 28 UNIAN 29 March 2020 Pro-Russian officials from Donetsk city recorded 16 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire on their troops in ten locations using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers, armoured fighting vehicles and 122 mm self-propelled artillery. 30 March: The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces reported 18 attacks on their positions on 29 March. One Ukrainian soldier was killed in action and four others wounded.Ukraine reports one KIA, four WIAs amid 18 enemy attacks in Donbas on March 30 UNIAN 31 March 2020

April–June 3 April: The press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces reported 16 attacks on their positions by pro-Russian troops. 7 April: Pro-Russian forces launched a drone strike on Ukrainian troops at Avdiivka, in the eastern area of operations; a civilian vehicle carrying journalists from a Ukrainian TV channel was also targeted. The unmanned vehicle was armed with VOG-17 grenades. 9 April: According to the press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, pro-Russian attacks intensified today, with 21 ceasefire violations registered the past day. One Ukrainian soldier was killed in action, two other were wounded. 10 April: The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded 17 pro-Russian violations of the truce on 10 April, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded. 16 April: Ukraine handed over 14 pro-Russian prisoners in exchange for 20 Ukrainians held by both separatist republics. Only two of the Ukrainians released were military personnel.Donbas prisoner swap: 20 Ukrainians handed over to Ukraine gov't (List) UNIAN 16 April 2020 25 April: The press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded 16 pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire on 25 April. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action.