In the area of the Joint Forces Operation on October 17, Russian occupation forces violated the cease-fire 9 times. At the same time, the enemy used weapons banned by the Minsk agreements 6 times, - the JFO headquarters reported. The enemy provided aimed fire from 120 and 82 mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns and small arms. Russian occupation forces fired at the Joint Forces' positions in the area of Verkhnyotoretske, Avdiivka, Novotroitske, Hnutove, Talakivka, Lebedynske and Shyrokyne settlements. The enemy fired at the defenders of Talakivka from 120 mm mortars, and from 82 mm mortars - at the strongholds of our troops in the area of Hnutove, Lebedynske and Shyrokyne.
Maxim Ekkert will lead the "export" of coal mined in the occupied territory of Donetsk oblast. He is called the man of son of the runaway president Oleksandr Yanukovych. Separatist Telegram-channel "This is the DNR, baby" writes about it. This channel has been running since May 2018, currently it has an outspoken opposition to provisional leader of the "DNR" Denis Pushilin. According to the data of the specified Telegram-channel, on October 15, the "illegal takeover of the Ugol Donbassa state-owned company was held": there, the old director was removed and the new one was appointed without Pushilin's consent.
The occupation authorities claim that on October 18, the work to restore the Vodafone communications line in the area of Olenivka can be started. This was stated by representative of the "DNR" at the negotiations in Minsk Natalia Nikonorova, - separatist media report. "The Ukrainian party promised to start restoration work on this Thursday. We hope that a full-fledged connection will be restored in the near future", - Nikonorova stated.
The next testing of explosives is scheduled in occupied Makiivka from October 17 to 19 and from October 22 to 26. The occupation administration operating in the city warned about it. The number of "mine explosives' testing" has increased since the occupation amid the fact that most of the mines in the territory under the control of militants have ceased to work. Previous testing was carried out in September 19-21 and September 24-28.