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. A total of 12 incidents occurred by the end of the day. In the eastern area of operstions, Pavlopil was fired upon from pro-Russian positions at Sosnovske with small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank rocket launchers and 82 mm mortars. Two antitank guided missiles landed in Opytne, while Avdiivka received fire from infantry weapons and 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles. Pisky was struck by small arms fire and anti-tank rocket fire. In the northern front, Orikhove and Novotoshkivke were hit by 120 mm mortar barrages. Novoluhanske was targeted with infantry weapons and different grenade-launcher systems. Ukrainian forces returned fire. 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.

4 February
The press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces registered 12 pro-Russian attacks on their troops on 3 February. Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded. Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city said that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire on seven occasions in seven settlements using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank rocket launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers and armoured fighting vehicles. Officials from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic said that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire on one occasion within the repuclic's borders, when BMP-2 armoured vehicles launched an attack on Berezovske supported by 120 mm mortar fire.

Eight pro-Russian violations of the truce were reported by the Ukrainian Joint Forces headquarters by evening. By the end of the day, 12 incidents were reported by the Ukrainian military. In the eastern area of operations, three anti-tank guided missiles landed in Avdiivka, while Marinka and Krasnohorivka became the target of infantry weapons, anti-tank rocket launchers and 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles. Pisky and Starohnativka received fire from small arms, under-barrel grenade launchers and automatic grenade launchers. In the northern front, Novotoshkivke and Orikhove were hit by the combined fire of 82 mm and 120 mm mortars. Ukrainian troops at Travneve and Novoluhanske were harassed with small arms and heavy machine gun fire. A number of Ukrainian attacks on pro-Russian positions was reported by pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city. Trudivske, Oleksandrivka, Spartak, Staromykhailivka and Volvo Center, in the surroundings of Donetsk city, Gagarin mining complex, in the area of Horlivka, and Uzhivka, in the region of Mariupol, came under hostile fire. In the main incidents, 82 mm mortar volleys landed in Spartak and Gagarin. BMP-1 armoured vehicles from Marinka engaged pro-Russian redoubts at Oleksandrivka and Trudivske. BMP-2 armoured vehicles from Krasnohorivka fired upon pro-Russian positions at Staromykhailivka.

5 February
The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded 12 pro-Russian violations of the truce the previous day. Pro-Russian officials at Donetsk city said that Ukrainian forces attacked their positions on 18 ocassions in nine settlements using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers and armoured fighting vehicles. Local sources reported one Ukrainian violation of the ceasefire within the boundaries of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic when Holubovske was hit by 120 mm mortars.

The press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces reported ten pro-Russian violations of the truce by evening. A total of 13 incidents were reported by the end of the day. In the eastern front, Avdiivka was once again hit by two anti-tank guided missiles. The Ukrainian stronghold also received fire from small arms, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers. Ukrainian positions at Novotoshkivke and Pisky were hit by small arms fire, heavy machien gun fire and anti-tank rockets. Shyrokyne and Marinka were targeted with infantry weapons. In the northern area of operations, Shchastya was hit by two anti-tank guided missiles, while Orikhove came under 120 mm mortar fire. Ukrainian troops at Travneve were fired upon with small arms. Pro-Russian officials at Donetsk city told the press that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire on a number of occasions throughout the day. The Ukrainian military engaged the separatists at Trudivske, in the outskirts of Donetsk city, 6/7 mining complex, in the area of Horlivka, and Sakhanka, in the region of Mariupol. In the main incidents, 6/7 mining complex came under the combining fire of 82 mm and 120 mm mortar fire. Mortar barrages damaged a water pipeline, a transformer, a shelter and knocked down a number of power lines at 6/7 coal mine.

6 February
According to the press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces, pro-Russian troops broke the ceasefire on 13 occasions the past day; one Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action. Pro-Russian sources from Donetsk city recorded ten Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire in six locations 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. No incidents were reported by authorities from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic.

The press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded three pro-Russian violations of the truce by evening. A total of four incidents were registered at the end of the day. A single violation of the ceasefire took place in the eastern front, where heavy machine gun fire was reported near Krasnohorivka. In the northern area of operations, Orikhove was hit by 120 mm mortar volleys, while Novoluhanske received fire from small arms, automatic grenade launchers and 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles. Pro-Russian officials at Donetsk city told the press that Ukrainian forces attacked their positions at Oleksandrivka, in the outskirts of Donetsk city, and, in the area of Horlivka, Dolomitne and Zaitseve. Zaitseve became the target of automatic grenade launchers and 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles.

7 February
The Ukrainian Joint Forces HQ recorded four pro-Russian violations of the truce on 6 February. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in action. Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city said that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire on four occasions at three settlements using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, anti-tank rocket launchers and 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles,

The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces said that pro-Russian troops attacked their positions on four occasions by evening. A total of seven incidents were recorded by the end of the day. Novomykhailivka, in the eastern area of operations, received fire from small arms and different grenade-launcher systems. In the northern front, heavy shelling was reported at Orikhove, which became the target of automatic grenade launchers, 82 mm mortars, 120 mm mortars and 122 mm self-propelled artillery. Krymske, meanwhile, was hit by two anti-tank guided missiles launched from Sentianivka. Pro-Russian sources from Donetsk city reported a number of Ukrainian violations of the truce. In the main incidents, Trudivske, in the western surroundings of Donetsk city, came under 82 mm mortar fire, while Sakhanka was hit by small arms fire, heavy machine gun fire and anti-tank rockets.

8 February
The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces said that pro-Russian forces broke the ceasefire seven times the previous day. Sources from the self-styled Donetsk People's Republic recorded three Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire.in three locations using small arms, heavy machine guns, anti-tank rocket launchers and 82 mm mortars. Local officials reported one Ukrainian violation of the ceasefire within the boudaries of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, when 122 mm self-propelled guns from Orikhove engaged pro-Russian positions around Zolote-5, one of the disengagement areas agreed in Minsk. Four pro-Russian soldiers were killed and four wounded. The fire was directed by a drone, which was shot down by separatist forces.

By evening, the press centre of the Ukrainian forces reported a single pro-Russian violation of the truce, when Orikhove, in the northern area of operations, became the target of 120 mm mortars and 122 mm self-propelled artillery. At the end of the day, Ukrainian troops at Shchastya were harassed with small arms and heavy machine gun fire. Lebedinske was fired upon with small arms and automatic grenade launchers. Pro-Russian autorities from Donetsk city told the press that 6/7 mining complex received intense fire from 82 mm mortars.

9 February
The Ukrainian Joint Forces press centre reported three violatons of the ceasefire by pro-Russian troops aon 8 February. Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city said that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire on three occasions in two settlements using small arms, heavy machine guns, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles and 82 mm mortars.

The HQ of the Ukrainian Joint Forces said that pro-Russian forces had broken the ceasefire on five occasions by evening. Separatists sources at Donetsk city reported two Ukrainian attacks on their positions when two 82 mm mortar barrages landed in 6/7 mining complex.

10 February
The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces registered nine pro-Russian attacks on their positions on 9 February. Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city said that Ukrainian forces broke the ceasefire on five occasions in four settlements using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and 82 mm mortars,

Pro-Russian sources from Donetsk city recorded a number of Ukrainian violations of the ceasefire throughout the day. Staromykhailivka, Oleksandrivka, Spartak and Volvo Center, in the surroundings of Donetsk, Mykhailivka, Gagarin mining complex and Shyroka Balka, in the area of Horlivka, and Sakhanka, in the region of Mariupol, came under attack. In the main incidents, BMP-1 armoured vehicles from Krasnohorivka fired upon pro-Russian positions at Staromykhailivka, while Gagarin, Mykhailivka, Shyroka Balka and Volvo Center came under 82 mm mortar fire.

11 February
The Ukrainian Joint Forces press centre reported five pro-Russian violations of the ceasefire the previous day. Pro-Russian officials from Donetsk city recorded eight Ukrainian violations of the truce in seven settlements employing small arms, heavy machine guns, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers and armoured fighting vehicles.

Pro-Russian authorities at Donetsk city recorded a series of Ukrainian attacks on their troops throughout the day. In the surroundings of Donetsk city, Staromykhailivka, Vasilyevka and Kruta Balka, Volvo Center and Donetsk airport, and, in the region of Mariupol, Uzhivka and Sakhanka, came under enemy fire. In the main incidents, 82 mm mortar volleys landed in Vasilyevka, Kruta Balka and Uzhivka, while for the second consecutive day, BMP-1 armoured vehicles from Krasnohorivka launched an attack on pro-Russian entrenchments at Staromykhailivka.

12 February
The headquarters of the Ukrainian Joint Forces recorded five pro-Russian attacks on their troops on 11 February. Pro-Russian officials at Donetsk city said that Ukrainian forces attacked their positions on six ocassions in four settlements using small arms, heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, 73 mm anti-tank recoilless rifles, 82 mm mortars, armoured personnel carriers and armoured fighting vehicles.

The press centre of the Ukrainian Joint Forces reported two pro-Russian violation of the ceasefire by evening. Pro-Russian authorities told the press that Ukrainian forces fired small arms and heavy machine guns at pro-Russian positions around Staromykhailivka and Oleksandrivka.

Ukrainian and pro-Russian representative at the Minsk Trilateral Contact Groupagreed on a new disengagement zone around the town of Hnutove.