Kyiv shut down the Zaitseve checkpoint, in Donbas, on Wednesday. The other checkpoints along the contact line in the conflict zone are operating normally.

Traffic through the Zaitseve checkpoint was temporarily suspended on February 3, in accordance with a decision by the anti-terrorist operation staff in Donbas, the press service of the Ukrainian State Border Service said.

"The primary reason is the situation, which has taken shape in the area, including a rise in the amount of provocative gunfire coming from Russian mercenaries, and a threat to the life and health of civilians, who are crossing the contact line," the press service said.

The checkpoint will reopen only after stabilization is achieved, it said.

"For its part, the Ukrainian State Border Service will boost the operation of other checkpoints with additional border details and workplaces, due to the forecasted growth of passenger and motor traffic there," it said.

The anti-terrorist operation staff explained the shutdown of the Zaitseve checkpoint with gunfire coming from militants, and said that it would stay that way "until the situation normalizes."

"Over the past day, approximately 80 mortar shells were fired on Zaitseve, and about 50 more on Mayorsk. A decision was made to shut down the Zaitseve checkpoint in order to not put the lives of civilians at risk. There is no guarantee that the terrorists will abstain from firing on the checkpoint when people undergo security checks," the anti-terrorist operation staff spokesman, Andriy Zadubinny, told reporters on Wednesday.