The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) has reported a decline in truce violations in Donbas.

"The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations than in previous days. While positioned at "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR")-controlled Donetsk railway station (6 kilometers northwest of Donetsk) between 08:35hrs and 14:00hrs., the SMM heard one undetermined explosion 3.5 kilometers to the northwest, saw and heard an impact of a 120mm mortar round 2.5 kilometers northwest of its position, and heard five bursts of heavy-machine-gun fire west-northwest of its position," the OSCE SMM said in a report.

It also said that in "government-controlled Triokhizbenka (33 kilometers northwest of Luhansk), the SMM heard four bursts of heavy machinegun fire to the north-west, which was assessed to be part of live-fire exercises by the Ukrainian Armed Forces."

"In "DPR"-controlled Staromykhailivka (16 kilometers west of Donetsk), the SMM heard outgoing small-arms fire and then observed anti-aircraft fire impact a building 200 meters from the SMM's position. At the same time, in nearby government-controlled Krasnohorivka (21 kilometers west of Donetsk), the SMM saw two anti-aircraft guns (ZSU 23)," the report said.

"Residents in villages near the contact line reported hearing fighting at night. In government-controlled Maryinka (23 kilometers southwest of Donetsk), a group of 15 male residents told the SMM that fighting between the sides had taken place in recent evenings," the mission said.

"Although repair works to power lines between government-controlled Artemove (40 kilometers northeast of Donetsk) and "DPR"-controlled Horlivka (39 kilometers northeast of Donetsk) had been postponed due to security concerns, the SMM facilitated and observed demining on the government-controlled and "DPR"-controlled sides that will clear the way for repair teams to start work in the coming days," the report said.