Donetsk, Oct 28 – DAN. Ukrainian forces have violated the ceasefire more than 2,500 times over the past week, shelling frontline areas of the Donbass People’s Republic, a DPR defense official said.

“Ukrainian forces have broken the ceasefire 2,578 times over the past week, employing artillery, tanks and mortars to shell the Republic in 1,673 cases,” DPR Operations Command deputy commander Eduard Basurin told a news briefing at the Donetsk News Agency.

He added that 26 towns were targeted. The most intense fire was opened on Makeevka, Zaitsevo and Elenovka.

"We Retain the right to open retaliate fire as Kiev forces commit crimes against civilians. We urge OSCE to follow each fact and estimate the criminal actions of Ukrainian forces," Basurin said.

It was reported earlier today that Ukrainian forces had shelled DPR with 590 mortar, artillery and tank cannons rounds overnight. Three civilians were killed, two of them in Makeevka, 10 people were wounded.