Artillery fire kills at least 12 civilians in Donetsk

KIEV, Ukraine — Artillery fire in the rebel stronghold of Donetsk has killed at least 12 civilians as the fighting between pro-Russia separatists and government troops intensifies.

Donetsk city hall says five people were killed early Friday afternoon as they were waiting for humanitarian aid outside a community center and two people were killed when a mortar shell landed near a bust stop. Five other people died Friday in sporadic artillery fire in the west of Donetsk.

Full-blown fighting between the rebels and government forces erupted anew earlier this month following a period of relative tranquility. Hostilities now seem to be focused around Debaltseve, a railway hub which could prove a crucial link between the rebels in Donetsk and in Luhansk northeast to it.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.