MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. Self-defense forces of the self-proclaimed unrecognized Donetsk People’s Republic will continue unilateral withdrawal of heavy artillery as of Friday, Eduard Basurin, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry of the DPR said.

"Upon decision of the DPR Prime Minister (Alexander Zakharchenko) the withdrawal of heavy artillery of the self-defense forces to the sites of permanent stationing will continue by way of an initiative in other areas of the republic," Basurin said.

He recalled that the DPR forces had already withdrawn heavy weapons from the Telman district, the township of Yelenovka and the town of Yassinovataya.

Basurin said that, more specifically, the DPR units had pulled back eight 2S1 self-propelled artillery mounts, six D-30 artillery guns and six Grad salvo systems.