The ceasefire largely held in the military operation zone between midnight and 6 p.m. on Wednesday, with only one attack against Ukrainian positions observed around Mariupol, Kyiv says.

At 9:50 a.m. militants fired small arms against a Ukrainian military stronghold in Novotroitske, the press center of the military operation said on Wednesday evening. "The shelling was chaotic and lasted for a few minutes," the statement reads.

The self-proclaimed republics continue blocking Ukrainian television and radio broadcasts, the press center also said.

"According to our latest information, Ukrainian television has gone off air in the town of Metalist in Luhansk region," the report says.