Ukrainian troops have "counterattacked in Avdiyivka" and improved their positions on the approaches to Donetsk, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said.

"They attacked us because they wanted to push Ukrainian troops out of the Avdiyivka industrial zone... During clashes in the Avdiyivka area Russian troops used all kinds of artillery, multiple rocket launchers, mortars, tanks, other types of weapons strictly prohibited by the Minsk agreements," Poroshenko said during a trip to Ivano-Frankivsk on Friday.

"Moreover, as a result of the enemy attack, our military, our heroes counterattacked and improved our positions on the site that has become key on the approaches to the occupied Donetsk," Poroshenko said.

At the same time, 15 Ukrainian troops and one rescuer have died in the Donetsk sector since January 29, he said.

"Kyiv did and will observe the Minsk agreements," the Ukrainian president said.

"Now, on the road to peace and to restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine, such an approach has absolutely no alternative. So we think, and such is the opinion of our key partners too," Poroshenko said.