Illegal armed groups have violated the ceasefire in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Donbas four times since the beginning of the day as of 18.00 on Thursday, the ATO headquarters has reported.

"The number of attacks on Ukrainian positions by illegal armed groups in the ATO area has not been significant since the beginning of the day. At the same time, the enemy continued to use mortars and endanger civilians," reads a report posted by the press center of the ATO headquarters on its Facebook page on Thursday.

According to the report, early on Thursday, militants launched over 20 82mm mines and fired from a large-caliber machine gun at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Maryinka.

The enemy also used an 82mm mortar to fire at the houses of peaceful residents of Maryinka. Information on the aftermath of destruction and those injured is being clarified.

In the Donetsk sector, Ukrainian positions came under grenade launcher and small arms fire in the outskirts of Avdiyivka last night, and large-caliber machine guns were used near Pisky.

In the Luhansk sector, militants, using automatic grenade launchers and small arms, fired for almost 40 minutes at the strongholds of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Krymske.

"The Russian occupation groups have violated the ceasefire four times since midnight. Our fighters twice made the enemy observe the truce. There are no losses among Ukrainian troops as a result of hostilities," the report says.