The third phase of the routine withdrawal of weapons from the contact line is due to begin in the Ukrainian army operation area in the Luhansk region on Thursday, spokesman for the operation headquarters in the Luhansk region Ruslan Tkachuk has said.

"In accordance with the addendums to the Minsk agreements, Ukrainian servicemen will remove 82mm mortars to a distance of at least 15 kilometers from the contact line. This stage will continue for three days [and will proceed] under constant monitoring by OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) observers. Media representatives have also been invited to work there," a report posted on Tkachuk's website says.

No violations of the ceasefire were registered in the Luhansk region and near Artemivsk from 7:00 a.m. local time on October 14 to 7:00 a.m. on October 15, he said.

"Mine-clearing efforts and measures to restore the gas supply systems of villages near the frontline are under way in government-controlled territory," Tkachuk said.