Ukrainian Soldier Killed, First Death on Russian Border in Weeks

KIEV, KOMPAS.com – Ukrainian soldiers on Saturday (19/2/2022) reported the death of a soldier, the first death on the Russian border in weeks.

They also accused the Moscow-backed rebels of stepping up a sharp offensive, multiplying fears of an imminent Russian invasion.

The joint military command for eastern Ukraine said a soldier suffered a fatal shrapnel wound in the conflict zone that straddles two separatist areas near the Russian border.

Also read: Why are Russia-Ukraine wars and what is Putin after?

Meanwhile Ukraine’s emergency services said two of its staff were injured in a wave of attacks on Friday (18/2/2022).

Ukraine’s armed forces said rebels used 82- and 120-millimeter mortar rounds, which were banned under a previous ceasefire agreement, in towns across the front line that straddles the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

The separatists “fired artillery shells at population centers and placed their artillery systems near people’s homes,” the Ukrainian army said. AFP.

“In this way, the enemy tries to force our armed forces to return fire then blames them for shooting civilians,” he continued.

The military added that it continues to resist and contain armed aggression without attacking civilians, and accuses Russia of directing attacks by its allies.

Moscow has officially denied involvement in the conflict, calling it an internal Ukrainian affair.

However, the watchdog of the European security agency OSCE reported regular shipments of Russian weapons across the border during the eight years of the war.

Also read: Why Ukraine is Poor and What If War Against Russia

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