Ukraine has finished the first phase of removal of artillery with a caliber of less than 100 millimeters from the demarcation line in Donetsk region, Ukrainian Presidential Administration spokesman for the army operation Andriy Lysenko has said.

"Artillery was removed in several stages, the process continues. The first phase in Luhansk direction: all weapons on the frontline were tracked. This happened with the participation of OSCE SMM representatives who have a mandate to control this. Weapons were removed to the distance at least 15 kilometers far from the confrontation line. The plates of the weapons were checked. This process was done in Donetsk direction. Tank removal has been finished," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Saturday.

Lysenko said that the next phase is verification of removed tanks by OSCE monitors.

"The same mechanism is to be used on the territory under control of militants," he said.

"Ukraine clearly observes all the liabilities taken after signing Minsk agreements. We will continue doing this, as the issue of peace is a top-priority for us," he said.