The settlements of Metalist, Oleksandrivsk, Bile and Rozkishne have been freed from militants and Luhansk airport has been unblocked, the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported.

"Due to the successful offensive actions of the ATO forces near Donetsk, some militants are trying to leave the city, dressing in civilian clothes and stealing the cars of citizens," the ministry's press service reported on Monday.

The situation in the area of the anti- terrorist operation (ATO) in eastern Ukraine remained tense as of Monday morning.

According to the report, the most aggravated situation was recorded in Donetsk, Luhansk, Lysychansk, Severodonetsk and Antratsyt where militants are planning to use the seized public administrative buildings as strongholds. Central state television and radio channels have been blocked in the towns, but Russian TV channels are broadcast, and they "do not give an objective assessment of the actions of ATO soldiers during the liberation of towns of Donetsk region from terrorists."