Illegal armed groups have violated the ceasefire 17 times since the beginning of the day, the press center of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) headquarters has reported on Facebook.

According to the report, taking into account the life-threatening situation, ATO soldiers returned fire 12 times. Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen were not killed or injured in the fighting.

"The past day in the ATO area ended with an increase in the number of militant attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk sector. Last evening, pro-Russian mercenaries fired for more than three hours from various types of grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms at the southeastern outskirts of Avdiyivka," reads the report.

In addition, in the Donetsk sector, militants fired twice from IFVs at Ukrainian fortified positions near Zaitseve, and the defenders of Mayorsk and Nevelske came under enemy fire at night.

In the Luhansk sector, at around 18.00, militants used grenade launchers and small arms on the outskirts of the village of Donets, as well as an 82mm mortar not far from Krymske.

The ceasefire was observed in the Mariupol sector after 18.00.