One Ukrainian serviceman killed, four wounded in Donbas fighting

The combat near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske and Khutir Vilnyi in the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Ukraine's Luhansk region has ended, the JFO press has reported on Facebook.

"The combat near the settlements of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske and Khutir Vilnyi has currently ended. The Joint Forces units have delivered an adequate response to the enemy and maintained full control over the situation. Unfortunately, one of the Ukrainian defenders was killed, and four others sustained light wounds. They are being provided with medical aid. The enemy has one dead and five seriously wounded. The enemy has requested a ceasefire. The positions of the Ukrainian defenders have not been lost," the report reads.

It notes that the Joint Forces reserve units are on alert.

"The situation is completely under control," the JFO headquarters said.

Russian-backed forces attacked the positions of Ukrainian Joint Forces units near the villages of Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Krymske and Khutir Vilnyi early on Tuesday, February 18.

The invaders fired at the Ukrainian military from weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements: 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types and heavy machine guns. Supported by massive fire, Russian invaders launched an offensive operation and attempted to advance through the contact line.

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