Vladyslav Voloshyn, a representative of Ukraine's Donetsk operative-tactical group, refuted media reports alleging that the Ukrainian army had retreated from the town of Zaitseve in Donbas.

"Reports of the kind are written by those who have not been to the site. Information about the surrender, retreat, and loss of positions in Zaitseve is totally absurd. We have not surrendered, or lost a millimeter," he told Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.

"Tensions are not high" in the Zaitseve area now, and the hostile gunfire is not intense, Voloshyn said.

A number of media outlets said on Monday morning, with the reference to volunteers, that forces opposing the Ukrainian army in Donbas, seized a kilometer of land near Zaitseve, during an attack mounted on Sunday, and put Avdiyivka under intense fire.