As the Ukrainian government reshuffles the military, residents of the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk in the crisis-torn east of the country, say they have no way of escaping army shelling.

After months of unsuccessful efforts to suppress the uprising, President Petro Poroshenko has vowed to make the armed forces more effective, while exploring diplomatic options to end the crisis.

One woman said she was worried about the decisions being taken in Kyiv:

“On TV, they show people taking to the streets of Kyiv, demanding the relaunch of the anti-terrorist operation,” she said. “Citizens of Kyiv, have you been here? How could you as Ukrainians kill your compatriots?”

Elsewhere in the east, nine border soldiers were injured when rebels opened fire in the Luhansk region according to the National Security and Defence Council.