The real cause behind the crisis in Donbas is the activity of Russia-supported illegal armed groups, acting Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations (UN) Oleksandr Pavlychenko said at an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council in the early hours of Wednesday.

The Ukrainian side also called on Russia to establish control over its border, he said.

"If Russia is really interested in the stabilization of the situation, we offer a few easy steps: to stop sending mercenaries and ammunition to Ukraine, to establish effective control over the border to prevent the infiltration, and withdraw all military and paramilitary formations from the east of Ukraine," he said.

Pavlychenko also announced that "Russia continues shelling at the Ukrainian army's positions from Russian territory, while the number of [Russian] troops at the border [with Ukraine] is building up," he said.

He also noted that the Ukrainian government follows all the recommendations by the UN.

"The government of Ukraine gives due consideration to all recommendations by the United Nations, there is no humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the situation is manageable," he said.

The Ukrainian government ensures the fulfillment of all social obligations, including retirement payments, social benefits, salaries, to the residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, except for some towns which remain under control of the terrorists, he added.