Timeline of the war in Donbas (2018)

This is the timeline of the war in Donbas for the year 2018.

January–March 10 January: According to the information provided by the spokesman of the Ukrainian operational headquarters in the morning, pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 7 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including twice in Donetsk region and on 5 occasions in Luhansk region); the fire was returned once, in Luhansk region. The spokesman of the Ministry of Defence on issues related to ATO confirmed at noon that three Ukrainian servicemen were killed, another three were wounded, and one was injured in the Donbass region on 10 January. In the outskirts of Donetsk city, Verkhnyotoretske and Butivka mining complex were shelled with automatic grenade launchers. In the northern section of the demarcation line, rebel troops used small arms, rocket launchers, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars to attack Novoluhanske. Later in the night, Troitske and Luhanske were hit by 82 mm and 120 mm mortar volleys. Two Ukrainian servicemen were killed by an explosive device at Pisky, one Ukrainian soldier was killed by shelling at Novoluhanske, three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded near Novoluhanske and Verkhnyotoretske and another soldier was injured at Butivka mining complex. Donetsk People's Republic deputy Minister of Defense, Eduard Basurin, said to the press that in the area around Donetsk city, Spartak was the target of small arms, rocket launchers and 82 mm mortars, while in the region of Mariupol, Uzhivka, the villages of Sakhanka and Sosnovke came under 82 mm and 120 mm mortar fire. In the area of Horlivka, Holmivsky and Dolomitne were shelled by 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, armoured fighting vehicles and 122 mm self-propelled guns. Ukrainian armoured fighting vehicles also engaged pro-Russian positions at Mihaylivka and Zaitseve, supported by infantry weapons and grenade launchers. Three civilian residents were wounded. The shelling resulted in a power outage in Holmivsky. Officials from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic reported that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire four times within the republic boundaries. 11 January: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 9 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including on 5 occasions in Donetsk and on 4 occasions in Luhansk region) the fire was returned once, near Novoluhanske. The spokesman of the Ministry of Defence on issues related to ATO reported at noon that one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and four others were wounded and injured in the Donbass region. By the end of the day one Ukrainian serviceman was killed (in the course of mine clearance in Donetsk region), two were wounded (by shelling at Novozvanivka and Pisky), one was wounded during mine clearance, and one was wounded by the blast of an unidentified explosive device. Pro-Russian sources at Donetsk city reported 14 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire in nine locations using small arms, grenade launchers, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers, armoured fighting vehicles and heavy artillery. 12 January: According to the information provided by the spokesman of the Ukrainian operational headquarters in the morning, pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 10 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including on 3 occasions in Donetsk region and on 7 occasions in Luhansk region); the fire was returned on 5 occasions. The spokesman of the Ministry of Defence on issues related to ATO confirmed at noon that two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded in the Donbass region. In the surroundings of Donetsk city, small arms, heavy machine gun fire and antitank rockets hit Avdiivka. In the region of Mariupol, Vodiane and Shyrokyne came under 120 mm mortar fire. In the northern section of the demarcation line, pro-Russian armoured fighting vehicles engaged Ukrainian positions at Troitske for two hours, supported by ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns and 120 mm mortars. Luhanske became the target of infantry weapons and 82 mm mortar fire. Small arms fire was reported meanwhile at Stanytsia Luhanska and Katerinivka. By the end of the day two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded, near Troitske and near Katerynivka. Pro-Russian sources at Donetsk city reported 16 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire in nine locations using small arms, grenade launchers, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars. A residential area of Dokuchaievsk reported heavy damage. 19 January: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 7 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including on 4 occasions in Donetsk region and on 3 occasions in Luhansk region); the fire was returned once. The spokesman of the Ministry of Defence on issues related to ATO reported at noon no casualties in the Donbass region on 19 January. In the main incidents, pro-Russian forces had attacked Ukrainian troops twice – at Luhanske with 82 mm mortars and at Stanytsia Luhanska with infantry weapons. Luhanske was attacked once again before dawn with heavy machine guns and 82 mm mortars. In the region of Mariupol, Shyrokyne and Vodiane came under 120 mm mortar fire. Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city reported four Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire in three locations using 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars and armoured fighting vehicles. In the area of Donetsk city, BMP-1 armoured vehicles carried out an intense attack on pro-Russian positions around Spartak, which were hit by forty 73 mm rounds. In the region of Mariupol, Sakhanka was shelled with 82 mm and 120 mm mortars, while pro-Russian troops at Pikuzy were engaged by BMP-1 armoured vehicles, which fired eighteen 73 mm rounds upon them. 7 February: According to the information provided by the spokesman of the Ukrainian operational headquarters in the morning, pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 17 occasions on Ukrainian positions on 7 February. The spokesman of the Ministry of Defence on issues related to ATO confirmed at noon that one Ukrainian serviceman was injured in the Donbass region on 7 February. Pro-Russian tanks engaged Ukrainian redoubts at Pisky, west of Donetsk city, supported by small arms and rocket launchers. In the region of Mariupol, Ukrainian troops at Shyrokyne became the target of heavy machine guns and grenade launchers. In the northern section of the demarcation line, 120 mm mortar volleys landed in Novozvanivka, Luhanske and Troitske. Popasna was shelled with 82 mm mortars. An Orlan-10 Russian drone was shot down in eastern Ukraine. Pro-Russian sources at Donetsk city reported 15 Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire in 12 different locations using small arms, snipers, automatic grenade launchers, 73 mm antitank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers and armoured fighting vehicles. Officials from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic recorded six Ukrainian violations of the truce. 16 February: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 20 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including once in Donetsk region and on 19 occasions in Luhansk region); the fire was returned on 8 occasions. The spokesman of the Ministry of Defence on issues related to ATO confirmed at noon that one Ukrainian serviceman was wounded and another injured in the Donbass region on 16 February. In the northern sector of the demarcation line, Ukrainian positions at Luhanske were repeatedly attacked by armoured fighting vehicles supported by heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, 82 mm and 120 mm mortars. Infantry weapons, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars were used to engage Ukrainian forces at nearby Svitlodarsk and Troitske. Krymske came under small arms, rocket propelled grenade and 82 mm mortar fire. In the surroundings of Donetsk city, Ukrainian troops at Taramchuk were attacked with infantry weapons. Pro-Russian officials at Donetsk city reported eight Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire in four different locations using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, 73 mm antitank recoilless rifles, ZU-23-2 antiaircraft guns, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars and tanks. Deputy minister of defence of the Donetsk People's Republic, Eduard Basurin, reported that Ukrainian members of the 57th motorized infantry brigade from Pisky slipped through the demarcation line, where they were met by pro-Russian forces. One Ukrainian soldier, identified as Vasily Zhemelinsky, was taken prisoner. Two Ukrainian soldiers were allegedly killed and two others wounded. 21 February: According to the information provided by the spokesman of the Ukrainian operational headquarters in the morning, pro-Russian troops had opened fire on 20 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including on 6 occasions in Donetsk region and on 14 occasions in Luhansk region); the fire was returned on 9 occasions. The spokesman of the Ministry of Defence on issues related to ATO confirmed at noon that three Ukrainian servicemen were wounded, one soldier was injured, and one died due to careless handling of a weapon in the Donbass region on 21 February. In the outskirts of Donetsk city, small arms fire was reported in Avdiivka. In the region of Mariupol, Vodiane was shelled with rocket launchers, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars, while Lebedinske was hit by 82 mm mortar rounds. In the northern section of the demarcation line, pro-Russian armouredfighting vehicles attacked Troitske supported by 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars and 122 mm self-propelled artillery. Novooleksandrivka, Krymske and Katerinivka came under 82 mm mortar fire. Rebel forces fired small arms, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers at Ukrainian troops in Luhanske, Zaitseve, Zhelezne and Novoluhanske. Mayorsk was also shelled by ZU-23-2 antiaircraft guns. 22 February: The ATO HQ reported in the morning that pro-Russian forces had opened fire on 19 occasions on Ukrainian positions (including on 2 occasions in Donetsk region and on 17 occasions in Luhansk region); the fire was returned on 7 occasions. The spokesman of the Ministry of Defence on issues related to ATO confirmed at noon that one Ukrainian serviceman was killed and another wounded in the Donbass region on 22 February. Most incidents took place within the area of Svitlodarsk dam, in the northern front. Ukrainian positions at Troitske and Luhanske received intense fire from infantry weapons, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars. Krymske and Katerinivka were struck by 82 mm mortar volleys. Ukrainian troops at Novoluhanske and Zaitseve were harassed with small arms and machine gun fire. Pro-Russian armoured vehicles engaged Ukrainian redoubts around Novooleksandrivka, supported by small arms fire. In the eastern area of operations, Hladosove and Lozove became the target of heavy machine guns and different grenade-launcher systems, while Novotroitske and Pisky were shelled with 82 mm and 120 mm mortars.