Militants have launched five attacks on Ukrainian positions in Debaltseve in the past 24 hours and every attack was repelled, Ukrainian army spokesman Andriy Lysenko said.

"The city has not been encircled. The Ukrainian army is holding its positions. Units, which have arrived to reinforce our fighters in Debaltseve, are repelling hostile attacks and preventing the closure of the so-called pocket," he said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Monday.

Militants tried to attack Ukrainian positions from the side of Faschivka, Kirovske, Vuhlehirsk, Alchevsk and Pervomaisk on Sunday, Lysenko said.