Dmitry Lovetsky/AP The main terminal of Donetsk Sergey Prokofiev International Airport hit by shelling during fighting between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian government forces in the town of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014.
The UN found that artillery, tank, and small arms fire was ongoing in and around the separatist hotbeds of Donetsk and Luhansk, where pro-Moscow rebels have proclaimed independence from Ukraine. The September ceasefire followed a Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine meant to prevent the country's last pockets of separatist resistance from falling during a Ukrainian military offensive. It's now apparent that the ceasefire hasn't really put a halt to hostilities.
These latest reported casualties bring the total number of fighters and civilians killed in the Ukraine conflict to at least 3,660. A report by Gianni Magazzeni, a senior United Nations human rights official, stated that most civilian deaths were caused by shelling of residential areas by both pro-Russian separatists and a Ukrainian army bent on wrestling the breakaway regions back under Kiev's control.
Fighting at the Ukrainian army-held Donetsk airport - one of the conflict's major flashpoints - has also continued for over a week. Photos of a collapsed airport terminal circulated on Twitter this morning.
#BreakingPicture Most of the structure of #Donetsk #airport's Terminal 1 has collapsed due to Russian shelling. pic.twitter.com/c0lk12SXBR
- Conflict Reporter (@Conflict_Report) October 8, 2014
This before picture makes it clear. 70-80% of the front collapsed so far. #RussiaDestroysUkraine pic.twitter.com/IlobehF2I4
- Conflict Reporter (@Conflict_Report) October 8, 2014
The Los Angeles Time is also reporting that Russian surveillance drones are scouting areas around the strategically crucial Ukrainian government-held frontline city of Mariupol, perhaps in order to scout targets for a future offensive.
The war in Ukraine is continuing despite the ceasefire - raising fears of what the conflict might begin to look like if and when the agreement officially collapses.