The Ukrainian State Emergency Service suspended the evacuation of Debaltseve and adjoining villages on February 8 because of the ongoing gunfire and mines on local roads, service spokesperson Natalia Bystra said.

"At the same time, people in Donetsk and Luhansk regions continue to flee the endangered zones on their own. A total of 9,476 people, including 2,131 children, have left Donbas cities with the assistance of rescuers and volunteers and on their own since January 28," she said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"The ongoing hostilities in Debaltseve are hindering repairs. We are constantly monitoring the situation and, as soon as it improves, over 200 specialists and 80 pieces of hardware of the State Emergency Service and public utility services will be ready to start repair works," she said.