Events in Ukraine on 20 August 2014.

Briefly about the most important today's events in our digest of events

that have happened in Ukraine today

Donetsk and Lugansk terrorists use heavy equipment

Terrorists have been using heavy military equipment in Donetsk and Lugansk, while law enforcement units are limited in choice of arms they are permitted to use in large cities, Dmytro Tymchuk from the "Information Resistance Group" stressed in his statement.

"Operations in Donetsk and Lugansk are difficult for ATO forces to carry out, for terrorists make use of heavy equipment, whereas our divisions are limited in their choice of weapons in order to avoid massive casualties among the civilian population," Tymchuk says.

Militants have received reinforcement near Illovaysk; part of matériel has been destroyed

Insurgents received reinforcement near Ilovaysk, but several pieces of their equipment were destroyed by combatants of the "Donbas" battalion, the press-service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in its statement.

"Illegal armed formations called "East" and "Oplot" came to the aid of terrorists. 2 out of 5 pieces of enemy's military hardware were destroyed by fighters of the "Donbas" battalion when trying to enter the city”, the statement reads.

9 servicemen killed and 22 wounded in the past 24 hours in Ukraine

9 service members died in the past 24 hours of the anti-terrorist operation in the East of Ukraine, a spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council information centre (NSDC) Andriy Lysenko reported at a briefing.

"9 soldiers were killed and 22 received different types of wounds", Lysenko said.

Ukrainian forces continue to hold their positions at Savur-Mohyla hill, and at the Donetsk airport, as well as prevent illegal armed formations and subversive and terrorist groups from entering into Ukraine from the Russian Federation.

ATO forces engaged in fighting with terrorists 32 times within 24 hours.

34 residents of Donetsk region died in the past 24 hours as result of shelling; in total, 951 civilians have been killed

34 people were killed, and 29 others received different types of wounds in the past 24 hours during hostilities in Donetsk region, Donetsk Regional State Administration reported at 12:00 on Wednesday, 20 August.

In total, 951 have died and 1748 have been injured since the register of casualties was launched on 13 March this year when hostilities started.

It's been reported that according to Dmytro Tymchuk, Donetsk and Lugansk terrorists employ heavy armaments, while law enforcement units have only restricted choice of possible arms to be used in big cities.

Militants have been shelling Makiyivka, there are casualties

Terrorists shelled residential areas and industrial facilities in Makiyivka, Donetsk region, casualties among the civilian population were reported, a spokesman for the National Security Council Andriy Lysenko announced.

According to Lysenko, rebels continue to bombard the village of Olenivka.

Apart from that, terrorists also mined the perimeter of the "Victoria" mine, and a by-pass highway in Yasynuvata which provides access to Chervonogvardiyskiy district.

Russian paratroopers have been captured in Illovaysk

Russian paratroopers fight in Illovaysk; five of them have been captured, Mikhaylina Skoryk, a journalist, posted on her Facebook wall.

"Our soldiers captured 5 terrorists on August 19; all of them are paratroopers. One admits that he ran into 60 thousand debt, was taken in and sent to Ukraine", Skoryk added. 

A French director employed by terrorists has been arrested in Illovaysk

A military group of eight sent to reinforce Illovaysk terrorists was captured on Wednesday by the "Donbas" battalion, Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs, wrote on his Facebook wall.

According to him, among the detainees, there also was Yuriy Yurchenko, a French playwright, actor, poet, prize-winner at many international competitions, President of the Theatrical Association "Les Saіsons Russes" (Russian seasons).

Gerashchenko says that detainees will be sent to officers of the law once Illovaysk has been finally freed from terrorists.

Security Service of Ukraine has captured rebels with Russian weapons

A special unit of the Counter-intelligence Service of Ukraine together with fighters of the "Aidar" battalion eliminated a group of PRL commandos who adjusted the artillery and mortar fire aimed at ATO forces and peaceful quarters, the press-service of the Security Service of Ukraine reports.

One of the gunman who belongs to the so-called "Great Donskoy Army" possessed Russian-made equipment registered by the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, attached to Army Unit №55472

This fact was also confirmed by a corresponding form with a seal of the Army Unit №55472.

Specific charts to adjust the fire and some other papers were found, which prove that the Russian Federation supports terrorists fighting in the territory of Lugansk region.