Timeline of the war in Donbass (February 2020)



This is a timeline of the War in Donbass, from 1 February 2020. The timeline follows an ongoing conflict between Ukraine and anti-government pro-Russian separatists supported by Russia in the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine.

1 February
According to the press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, pro-Russian forces broke the ceasefire on eight occasions on 31 January. Pro-Russian authorities from Donetsk city recorded five Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire the previous day using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars and 120 mm mortars. Local officials reported one Ukrainian violation of the truce within the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, when BMP-2 armoured vehicles engaged pro-Russian redoubts at Pryshyb with the support of 82 mm mortar fire.

The Ukrainian military said that the separatists had broken the truce on 14 occasions by evening. By the end of the day, there were 15 incidents along the demarcation line. In the surroundings of Donetsk, an 82 mm mortar barrage hit Volvo Center. Pro-Russian forces fired infantry weapons, under-barrel launched grenades, automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank rocket launchers and anti-tank recoilless rifles on Ukrainian positions at Nevelske, Marinka, Krasnohorivka and Vasilyevka. In the northern front, Orikhove, Novotoshkivke and Vilnyi received the combined fire of 82 mm and 120 mm mortars. Ukrainian troops at Katerinivka and Luhanske were harassed with small arms and heavy machine gun fire. Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city recorded a number of Ukrainian violations of the truce by evening, Staromykhailivka, Volvo Center, Zhabicheve and Oleksandrivka, in the environs of Donetsk city, and Sakhanka, in the region of Mariupol, came under enemy fire. In the main incidents, Volvo Center and Zhabicheve were hit by 82 mm mortar volleys, while BMP-2 from Krasnohorivka engaged pro-Russian positions at Staromykhailivka, supported by 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles. A single 120 mm mortar round landed in Volvo Center.

2 February
The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded 15 pro-Russian violations of the truce; one Ukrainian serviceman was killed in action. Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city said that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire on eight occasions at six settlements using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank rocket launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers and armoured fighting vehicles. Officials from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Repubic reported three Ukrainian violations of the truce. The Ukrainian military employed 82 mm and 120 mm mortars to shell pro-Russian positions at Berezovske and Lohvynove. A residential building was damaged at Berzovske, A transformer was also hit, leaving the area of Holubovske without electrical power.

The HQ of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded 11 pro-Russian violations of the truce by evening. By the end of the day there were a total of 12 incidents. In the eastern fronts, Ukrainian positions at Lebedinske, Vasilyevka and Pisky were hit by small arms fire and different types of grenades and rockets, In the northern area of operations, BMP armoured vehicles from Sokolniki launched an attack on Krymske supported by 82 mm mortar fire. Novotoshkivke was shelled with 120 mm mortars, while Luhanske came under 82 mm mortar fire. Hladosove became the target of small arms and automatic grenade launchers. Pro-Russian sources from Donetsk city said that the Ukrainian military attacked their positions on a number of occasions throughout the day. In the main incidents, Volvo Center was shelled with automatic grenade launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles and 82 mm mortars. A single 120 mm mortar round hit Ukrainian positions at Nova Tavryia. Zhabicheve received fire from automatic grenade launchers. BMP armoured vehicles attacked Oleksandrivka supported by anti-tank rocket fire.

3 February
The Ukrainian Joint Forces headquarters recorded 12 pro-Russian attacks on their positions the previous day. Three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action. Pro-Russian sources from Donetsk city recorded six Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire in five locations the previous day using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers and armoured fighting vehicles. Local officials reported two Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire within the republic boundaries. The Ukrainian military used small arms and automatic grenade launchers.to engage pro-Russian forces at Holubovske and Smile.

The press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces reported ten pro-Russian violations of the truce by evening. Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city recorded several Ukrainian attacks on their troops throughout the day. In the surroundings of Donetsk city, Staromykhailivka, Zhabicheve, Spartak, Volvo Center and Donetsk airport, and, in the area of Horlivka, Dolmitne and Shyroka Balka, came under attack. In the main incidents, 82 mm mortar volleys landed in Zhabicheve and Donetsk airport, while BMP-1 armoured vehicles from Krasnohorivka launched an attack on pro-Russian entrenchments at Staromykhailivka, where two civilian residences were damaged.