Battle-weary Ukrainian soldiers have converted a school into a military barracks where they are sent to catch up on their R & R before being shipped back to the front line . Poignant new pictures show soldiers of the Azov Battalion dressed in full military gear as they play basketball in the school gym , climb the playground and sleep on classroom couches . The Ukrainian Army is currently fighting pro-Russian rebels for control of the village of Shyrokyne , east of the port city of Mariupol . Scroll down for video . A group of Ukrainian soldiers sleep on couches inside the classroom of a school in Lebedynske . A soldier practices his basketball shots while playing in the school 's gym , which has been converted into a military barracks . Two men , still carrying their assault rifles and wearing military uniforms , inspect the school go-kart . Soldiers of the Azov Battalion relax in the sun on the porch of the school in eastern Ukraine . A soldier uses his army issue knife to eat from a can while enjoying some downtime at the school . A Ukrainian flag stands erect on the roof of the school as two soldiers look out over the premises . A dog is patted by one of the soldiers who was sent to the school for a break from front line fighting . It comes as sporadic reports of deaths and violence continue to emerge from the war zone despite a recently-agreed ceasefire deal . At least one Ukrainian serviceman has been killed and three wounded as a result of fighting in separatist eastern territories in the past 24 hours , the military has confirmed . However , attacks have fallen significantly in the past two weeks , but accusations of continued violence on both sides show the fragility of the peace accord agreed in Minsk last month . The deal called for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line , a promise adhered to in parts . Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said : 'There is increased activity of sniper groups . The serviceman who was killed died at the hands of a sniper . ' He added that while the Minsk agreements were broadly observed along the front lines , and the intensity of provocative attacks had dropped significantly , rebels continued to fire on government positions . Kiev accuses the separatists of using the ceasefire to regroup their forces and rearm for a further offensive , a charge the rebels deny , saying they have withdrawn heavy artillery in accordance with the Minsk peace deal . Two soldiers jokingly aim their guns while relaxing on the school roof , where a flag behind them displays their allegiance . The abandoned school 's playground was once home to hundreds of schoolchildren but is not filled only with soldiers due to the conflict . A soldier plays with the school piano . The site remains in perfect condition but has become a military barracks for soldiers to relax breaks in the fighting . A Ukrainian soldier still carrying his assault rifle and wearing military armor sits in the playground . 'Illegal armed groups are actively involved in combat training , gathering resources and rebuilding technical readiness , ' Lysenko said , adding that rebels had been tracked amassing combat equipment around their stronghold of Donetsk . The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , which monitors the pull-back of weapons , has said it can not fully confirm withdrawal on both sides as it has not been given access to all the locations where some weapons have been moved . However , Germany 's foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier claims violence has reduced significantly since the ceasefire deal was agreed . He said : ' A clear beginning was made . There 's a significant reduction of violence after hardships at the beginning . Today , we do n't have hundreds of breaches of the ceasefire , there are not many question marks regarding it . ' Russia and Ukraine have agreed to double the number of OSCE observers to 1,000 from 500 to monitor a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine . The classrooms now sit empty after the fighting nearby forced their evacuation . Stickers found at the school are attached to the magazine of this soldier 's gun as he smokes a cigarette . A battle-weary soldier falls asleep on school pillows during some much needed R & R . Wearing full military uniform and with his gun strapped to his chest , this soldier practices his skipping . Although the fighting has died down in the wake of last month 's ceasefire , there remains sporadic conflict .
Ukraine 's Azov Battalion has converted a school into a military barracks in Lebedynske , in the country 's east . Pictures show armed soldiers sleeping on couches , eating and relaxing on the playground at the school site . The army is still fighting pro-Russian rebels in the village of Shyrokyne , but leaders claim violence has reduced .