This story is free to read.

3 killed in shelling in rebel stronghold in eastern Ukraine

In this image taken Tuesday Feb. 3, 2015 a Ukrainian soldier holds a weapon as people wait on a bus to leave the town of Debaltseve Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. Soldiers bark orders at exhausted residents boarding evacuation buses with overflowing bags in hand, as another rebel artillery attack pummels this town on the front lines of Ukraine’s separatist war. Despair is deepening for a shrinking population that has been without power, heating and running water for almost two weeks. The relentless rebel advance on the railway town of Debaltseve is being slowed only by Ukrainian tanks, cannons and rocket launchers. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) In this image taken Tuesday Feb. 3, 2015 a Ukrainian soldier holds a weapon as people wait on a bus to leave the town of Debaltseve Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. Soldiers bark orders at exhausted residents boarding evacuation buses with overflowing bags in hand, as another rebel artillery attack pummels this town on the front lines of Ukraine’s separatist war. Despair is deepening for a shrinking population that has been without power, heating and running water for almost two weeks. The relentless rebel advance on the railway town of Debaltseve is being slowed only by Ukrainian tanks, cannons and rocket launchers. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

By Associated Press February 5, 2015 1 min read

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) – The City Hall in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine says at least 3 people have been killed in shelling overnight.

This follows artillery strikes on the rebel stronghold on Wednesday which hit a hospital, leaving five people dead.

Fighting between Russia-backed separatists and government forces picked up in January after a month of relative calm. The rebels pledge to carry on with their offensive on the government positions until Kiev stops shelling cities like Donetsk.

The Ukrainian government is anxious to use Thursday’s visit by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Kiev to reiterate its plea for lethal aid. President Barack Obama has opposed the idea of sending weapons to Ukraine but sources in his administration say this position could change in the light of recent events.