United Nations, Feb 18 (IANS): The UN Security Council voiced grave concern over the continued fighting in and around Debaltseve, Ukraine, which has resulted in numerous civilian casualties.

"The members of the Security Council regretted that, despite the announcement of a ceasefire on 15 February, violence has continued in recent days in some parts of eastern Ukraine," the 15- nation UN body said in a press statement Tuesday, Xinhua reported.

"The members of the Security Council called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and abide by commitments agreed in Minsk, including facilitating access for the OSCE (the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Special Monitoring Mission to monitor and verify compliance with the Minsk Agreements," the statement said.

"The members of the Security Council further called on all parties to treat detained individuals humanely," it added.

The council released the press statement just before its meeting on Ukraine Tuesday, which was held at the request of Russia.

Negotiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, the peace deal, known as the Minsk agreement, envisages a ceasefire from Feb 15 and withdrawal of heavy weapons from the frontline, and also covers election timelines, border control and prisoner exchange.

Some 8,000 Ukrainian troops had reportedly been encircled by independence-seeking insurgents in Debaltseve, as the conflict that broke out in Ukraine's east in April last year has intensified since mid-January.