LUGANSK, January 5./TASS/. Ukrainian troops have shelled militia positions in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic twice in the past 24 hours, republic’s defense ministry said on Saturday.

"The areas of Kalinovka and Zhelobok townships came under fire," the LuganskInformCenter news agency quoted the ministry as saying. According to militias, Ukrainian troops have used grenade launchers and light weapons.

Another ceasefire came into effect in Donbass on December 29 in the run-up to the New Year holidays. It was agreed on by members on the Contact Group on the settlement in eastern Ukraine on December 27, 2018. The parties have reached truce agreements more than 20 times since the beginning of the conflict in Donbass, but ceasefire violations have persisted.