Poltorak: Donbas sees active phase rather than frozen conflict

"I think it's too early to talk about a frozen conflict when our positions and populated areas have been shelled 14,000 times this year alone, to talk about a frozen conflict when 400 civilians have been killed this year alone," Poltorak told a Ukrainian TV channel in an interview, the press service reported.

Read alsoUkraine marks Armed Forces Day (Video)"I don't think this is a frozen conflict. It is in an active phase – there are hostilities, clashes and shelling every day. You get information from the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone and are aware of what has been happening there," Poltorak said.

He stressed that the main task of the Armed Forces is to defend Ukraine, its territorial integrity and protect the Ukrainian people.

Poltorak stressed that the Russian Federation should withdraw its forces from Donetsk and Luhansk and return Crimea to Ukraine.