Kyiv has accused the militias in eastern Ukraine of violating the ceasefire agreements more than 20 times overnight, particularly by firing mortars, firearms, and anti-aircraft systems.

The press center of the military operation in eastern Ukraine reported on Facebook on Thursday morning that the militants several times fired upon the government forces' positions near Mariupol and Pervomaiske. "In the Luhansk area, shelling caused the worst damage to the populated areas of Frunze, Schastia, Krymske, Sokilnyky, Kriakivka, and Zhovte," it said.

In the Donetsk region, members of the militants shelled the community of Avdiyivka and made several attempts to shell Donetsk airport, it said.

Near Debaltseve, the militants shelled the communities of Ridkodub, Kamyanka, Maloorlivka, and Chornukhyne, it said.

Near Mariupol, the militants twice shelled Charmalyk, it said.

Ukrainian artillery has not opened fire over the past 24 hours, it said.

The so-called silence regime was declared in the fighting area in Donbas on December 9. The conflicting parties vowed to observe it.