"The Armed Forces of Ukraine are geared up to response to unpredictable actions of terrorists in Donbas. The main thing is we have managed to stop the enemy. The Army has been restored. The Armed Forces of Ukraine have regained their fighting capacity, acquired combat experience, operational ability, technical equipment, maintenance to ensure successful fulfillment of tasks in protection of Ukraine". This was stated by Minister of Defence, Army General of Ukraine Stepan Poltorak during a public government report at the club of the Cabinet of Ministers.

He noted that the situation on the frontline remains tense. In particular, yesterday, on December 7, the number of provocative attacks was the largest in recent times —the positions of ATO forces have been shelled 51 times.

"Ukraine and the Armed Forces comply with the Minsk agreements and obligations on the withdrawal of weapons and the cease-fire. These attacks are an attempt to increase tension by mercenaries, especially to hamper crucial meetings. But these provocations have failed and will fail in the future", said the Minister of Defence.