The Ukrainian army and their armed opponents are synchronously withdrawing mortars from the contact line in Donbas, Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff spokesman Vladyslav Selezniov told Interfax on Thursday.

"The withdrawal of mortars with calibers under 120mm has been synchronized with the withdrawal of similar mortars of the militants monitored by the OSCE observers," Selezniov said, adding that the withdrawal would be happening on Thursday and Friday. "After that we will declare the withdrawal of mortars and OSCE SMM members will verify the presence of weapons in designated storage sites on October 17," Selezniov said.