Deadly Shell Attack On Bus Stop In Ukraine

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At least 13 people have been killed after a bus was hit by shelling in the eastern Ukraine city of Donetsk, say reports.

Ukraine's defence ministry blamed pro-Russian rebels, saying in a statement: "On Thursday, the terrorists shelled a trolleybus in Donetsk.

"The terrorists shelled the passenger transport from city residential areas controlled by the illegal militias."

But Moscow has blamed the attack on Ukrainian troops branding it as a "crime against humanity", aimed at undermining efforts to resolve the bloody conflict, which has claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people.

Following the deadly strike, separatists paraded around 20 captured Ukrainian soldiers through the streets of Donetsk as angry residents hurled pieces of glass and abuse at them.

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Gallery: Bus Hit By Shell In Donetsk

At least 13 people were killed when a shell or a mortar hit a trolleybus stop in the rebel-controlled city of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Continue through for more images

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The artillery attack in the rebel stronghold came as talks on the country's crisis led to an agreement to pull back heavy weaponry from a demarcation line defined in last year's Minsk agreement.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier brokered the deal with his counterparts from France, Russia and Ukraine during talks in Berlin.

"A lot depends on the question if what we have agreed on will not only remain printed paper, but will also change the situation on the ground," Mr Steinmeier said.

In a joint statement released by the German foreign ministry, the ministers noted "with serious concern" that fighting in eastern Ukraine had severely escalated, causing the loss of many lives.

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Gallery: Fierce Fighting Continues On Front Line In Ukraine

A Ukrainian serviceman fires a weapon during fighting with pro-Russian separatists in Pesky village near Donetsk

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko accused Russia on Wednesday of sending 9,000 troops to back separatist rebels in the east of his country, something Russia strongly denied

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"This must stop immediately and the regime of quiet must be restored," the statement said.

They called on signatories of the Minsk peace plan to meet in the coming days to implement the ceasefire and withdrawal of heavy weapons.

Kiev and Moscow blame each other for failing to implement a ceasefire agreed in Minsk last September to end the fighting between the Ukrainian army and pro-Russian rebels.

The development comes after the Ukrainian President claimed more than 9,000 Russian soldiers equipped with heavy weapons, including tanks and artillery, are currently backing up pro-Moscow fighters in the separatist east of the country.

In a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Petro Poroshenko said: "If this is not aggression, what is aggression?"

US officials later cranked up the diplomatic pressure on Russia with Secretary of State John Kerry calling Russia's actions "a blatant land grab".

:: BAFTA-winning filmmaker Ross Kemp has witnessed Ukraine's bloody conflict against pro-Russian separatists.

In the first instalment of Extreme World 4, showing on Sky1 HD tonight at 9pm, he looks at the country's fight against the rapid rise of far right groups.

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