The intensity of shelling of the Ukrainian military positions in southeast Ukraine has decreased, a spokesperson for the anti-terrorist operation said.

"Over the night into February 17 there was an insignificant decrease in the number of attacks against Ukrainian army positions in the anti-terrorist operation zone. Concurrently, terrorists have focused on the Debaltseve area," Anatoliy Stelmakh said at a briefing on Tuesday.

The enemy has focused on the Debaltseve area where it launched 15 attacks against Ukrainian positions overnight, Stelmakh said.

Grad rockets were fired against Ukrainian positions 21 times, artillery weapons five times, mortars and grenades 19 times overnight, he said.

Popasna, Sanzharivka and Chernukhyne came under artillery and mortar fire. The enemy fired BM-21 'Grad' multiple rocket launchers into Debaltseve three times.

Around Donetsk, militants fired mortar bombs into Opytne and near Donestk airport. They also shelled the town of Shyrokyne near Mariupol.

"The number of attacks and their territory once again show that the enemy is trying hard to seize the city of Debaltseve. However, the ATO forces have not lost a single position over the past 24 hours. Ukrainian soldiers want peace but they won't surrender their land," Stelmakh said.