Rebels, Ukrainians suffer heavy casualties in southern Donetsk

The killed in action and wounded toll counts between Russian backed rebels and Ukrainian soldiers reached the double digits in southern Donetsk in a midday ground assault Monday afternoon, according to Russian and Ukrainian language news accounts.

Rebel media claimed the encounter took place in Kominernovo, which is 12 kilometers due east of Mariupol, on the northern coast of the Sea of Azov.

According to the website novorosinform.org. two Ukrainian rifle platoons (about 60 effectives) attacked rebel fixed positions supported by artillery fire, tanks and BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).  A total of 10 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and another five were wounded.  Various rebel media reports say the Ukrainians lost one BMP-1, and one tank was damaged.

Rebel media showed a reporter's video which showed some of the Ukrainian dead.  Rebel media characterized the attack as an attempt to break through the lines.  Rebel media also said that the Ukrainians were forced back t their start lines as a result of the attack.

The Donetsk ministry of defense said that the total dead for the Ukrainians at Kominternovo amounted to 12 dead and 16 wounded, two IFVs and two tanks damaged.

Starting on the northern coast of the Sea of Azov, the line of  Bezimennie-Sakhanka-Kominternovo has been the target of many weeks of artillery fire and small unit probes by the Ukrainians, including a small arms attack by sea.

According to korrespondent.net, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said that eight rebel soldiers were killed and 16 wounded.  A lb.ua report said that rebel artillery launched against Ukrainian positions included 152mm and 122mm artilery, 122mm rocket artillery, and 82mm and 120mm mortar fire into the area of Vodyanoye, which is only a few hundred meters south of Kominternovo.  Rebel media reported that Ukrainian artillery in southern Donetsk continued overnight at Kominternovo between March 20th and March 21st.

A subsequent report by the Donetsk ministry of defense said that Ukrainian artillery struck rebel positions in and around Yasinovataya for 90 minutes on Tuesday.  The Ukrainian ministry of defense, quoted by lb.ua, said that rebel artillery hit Ukrainian positions at Avdievka, Opytnoye, the Butovka mine and at Peski.

The reported losses at Kominternovo are some of the heaviest combat losses by both sides since last year, when Ukrainian forces attacked rebel positions along the Svetlodarsk arc, which is north of Debaltsevo.  In that battle, the Ukrainian attempt the break a large section of the rebel line using the same formula, light infantry supported by artillery, IFVs and tanks.  A subsequent attack near Yasinovataya attempted to break the rebel  line between Gorlovka and Donetsk, but that attack was stopped as well.

According to rebel bloggers the decision to make the attack on Kominternovo was made by a rifle company commander who had been drinking.

Despite nearly constant fighting and increasing combat experience since the fall of 2014, neither side is capable of forcing a decision anywhere along the line of contact.  The Russian backed rebels hold an extensive defensive system that Ukrainian forces have yet to break even after months of shelling.  The Ukrainian hold the same defensive system on their side of the line.