Illegal armed groups have fired on the checkpoints and positions of Ukrainian Armed Forces units in Donetsk region about 20 times over the past 24 hours, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) has reported.

NSDC spokesman Andriy Lysenko said at a briefing on Thursday that shelling had been reported near Kirovske, Avdiyivka, Mayorske, Starolaspa, Maloorlivka, Komyshuvakha, Popasna, Krasnohorivka, Petrivske, and Karpivka.

"[Ukrainian] positions near the Donetsk airport were shelled three times," Lysenko said.

In addition, Russian-led militants committed attacks on Debaltseve in Donetsk region and Pisky in Luhansk region, presenting them as the actions of Ukrainian artillery.

"As many as 129 cases of shelling of the positions of Ukrainian security forces have been recorded since the beginning of the declared ceasefire at 1800 on September 5. There have been no losses among the servicemen of the ATO forces in the past 24 hours," he said.

At the same time, he said, government forces were isolating a crisis area and carrying out a check regime on key routes.