Grounds do not exist to say the defense of Mariupol will be loosened or for the possibility of joint patrol of Shyrokyne by Ukrainian military and members of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), head of the Donetsk regional administration Pavlo Zhebrivsky said.

"I would like to calm people down and say that today the mechanism allowing the securing Mariupol from an attack was developed in the Joint Staff," Zhebrivsky said a meeting with city residents.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission and joint coordination center remain to work in Shyrokyne, Zhebrivsky said. "The statements on joint patrolling of the territory by Ukrainian police subdivisions with representatives of the so-called DPR are a provocation," he said.

Only heavy arms are withdrawn from area around Shyrokyne and the Ukrainian military do not intend withdraw from strategic heights, Zhebrivsky said.

"Solely the Ukrainian Armed Forces remain at the front line, the National Guards secure strategic facilities and police units will be at roadblocks and to ensure public order," Zhebrivsky said.

According to Zhebrivsky, even after the Shyrokyne de-militarization the Ukrainian armed forces will need about 15 minutes "in order to return to their positions in case of an offensive of occupants."