Ukrainian military continue the "combat operation" in the Debaltseve area, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said in a report posted on its website on Wednesday.

"The Ukrainian military continued resisting the enemy after regrouping. A combat operation now continues in Debaltseve," the report says.

Kyiv reiterated that militants "began storming Debaltseve after massive shelling, thus rudely violating the peace agreements" in the past 24 hours.

"In the past 24 hours, the terrorists delivered five strikes against the city of Debaltseve with Grad systems and artillery. The enemy's subversive and intelligence groups broke into the city on Tuesday afternoon […] Railways and several roads leading to the city were blown up and power lines were damaged," the report says.

Illegal armed groups have also intensified their activities on the Donetsk track, the report says.

According to the Ukrainian authorities, five populated areas, including Vodiane, Pisky and Avdiyivka, came under fire from Grad systems and mortars in the past 24 hours. The village of Novotoshkivske in Luhansk region came under fire from artillery and Grad systems.

On the Mariupol front, militants have stormed the positions of the anti-terrorist operation forces near the village of Shyrokyno several times, the report says.

"The number of artillery attacks somewhat decreased in the early hours of February 18. The number of the enemy drones, which conduct air reconnaissance, has increased along the entire combat line. According to operative information, the enemy is regrouping its troops and is actively preparing for new combat actions," the report says.