ATO infantry combat vehicle hits landmine in Donbas, deaths reported

A Ukrainian Armed Forces infantry combat vehicle participating in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in Donbas has hit a landmine not far from the village of Opytne while moving from one position to another, according to the ATO press service.

"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian forces suffered casualties as a result of the [landmine] explosion," the ATO press service wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.

An investigation is under way to find out the causes and circumstances of the incident, which took place at 15:30 local time on Wednesday.

Civil volunteer Roman Donik in turn wrote that there were seven wounded soldiers. What is more, two soldiers were reportedly killed in the explosion.

Presidential Administration spokesman for ATO issuers Andriy Lysenko on December 4 confirmed earlier reports that five Ukrainian soldiers had hit a booby trap in the Mariupol sector. Four soldiers were wounded and one was killed in that incident.