Donetsk, May 13 - DAN. Ukrainian forces fired 700 artillery and mortar rounds at DPR frontline areas over the past 24 hours, DPR Operations Command deputy commander Eduard Basurin said on Tuesday.

“The enemy fired 78 152mm and 122mm artillery rounds, 49 tank gun rounds and 525 120mm and 82mm mortar rounds at 14 settlements on Donetsk axis,” Basurin said.

Five settlements came under fire on Mariupol axis; Kiev forces fired at them eight 152mm artillery rounds and 24 120mm and 82mm mortar rounds. Ukrainian forces also fired ten 82mm mortar rounds on Gorlovka axis.

According to DPR Operations Command, the number of fired munition rounds has increased at least by 1.5 times over the past two days. "The higher rate of strikes delivered with banned weapons from Ukrainian army positions is explained by the “Anti-Terrorist Operation” headquarters’ plans to make amends to the Ukraine’s leadership for the failed attempts to take our positions,” Basurin said.

Latest reports said five houses were damaged in Donetsk outskirts and Dokuchayevsk in shelling by Kiev forces over the past 24 hours. The shelling also disrupted gas- and electricity supply.

Ukrainian forces violated the ceasefire 70 times over the past 24 hours, said reports early on Tuesday. Two civilians in Donetsk’s Petrovskiy district were killed by shelling.*jk