Situation in ATO zone worsening, Russia refusing to stop aggression

The number of militant attacks in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone increased, which demonstrates Russia's reluctance to refuse from its aggressive intentions, Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak has said.

"The situation in the ATO zone has become even more tense. The terrorist groups have broken the ceasefire regime and Minsk agreements, which ban the use of heavy armament, 7,000 times since the beginning of the year... This fact shows that Russia does not refuse from its aggressive intentions against Ukraine," the minister said following a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission in Brussels on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian armed forces are not using heavy weapons and open fire only in retaliation, Poltorak said. "We responded to 7,000 instances of shelling only 900 times, and only when there was a real threat to our troops' lives, when terrorists resorted to assault activities, or there was a threat that new territories could be seized. Before using weapons, mainly firearms, we warn OSCE SMM monitors and only then respond appropriately," he said.

The minister denied allegations that Ukrainian forces had shelled cities in the Donbas areas not under Kyiv's control. "I want to deny reports that have been made from time to time that the Ukrainian armed forces are shelling Donetsk or other populated areas [...] We have proof that terrorist groups have fired upon populated areas under their control," he said.