You're reading: Kyiv says it is tightening grip on Donetsk, Luhansk

The Ukrainian army has 25 times engaged in combat with militants in the past 24 hours, and it is tightening the grip on Donetsk and Luhansk, spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council's information and analytical center Andriy Lysenko said.

The fighting occurred in the vicinity of Nyzhnioteple, Verkhnia Krynka, Zemliane, Verhunsky Rozizd, Olhynske, Stepanivka, Ilovailsk, Sabivka, Krasny Yar, Prydorozhne, Triokhizbenka, Faschivka, Stukalova Balka, Petrivske, Nyzhnia Vilkhova, Komyshuvakha, Siversk, Serebrianka, and Kumachove.

Tensions are the highest in the area of Alchevsk, Luhansk, Krasny Luch, Krasnodon, Horlivka, Makiyivka, Donetsk, Ilovaisk, Shakhtarsk, Torez and Snizhne where the hostilities are in progress.

“The ATO forces have tightened their grip around the positions of terrorists in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. An operation to block all types of supplies to Russian mercenaries is underway,” Lysenko said.

In turn, deputy director of the Donetsk Regional State Administration’s housing and public utilities department Larysa Huseva said at a meeting of the regional staff for liaison with the settlers on Wednesday, Aug. 13 that the hostilities have turned 480 families homeless in the Donetsk region.

The official Web site of the Donetsk region state administration said 300 homes had been razed to the ground, among them 42 communal buildings and 284 private buildings. They were accommodating 480 families or 1,021 persons.