There may officially be a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine but residents in Slovyansk have seen little sign of it.<br /><br />Heavy shelling overnight on Wednesday destroyed houses, and electricity shortages cut off water supplies for many.<br /><br />Both the rebels and the government accuse each other of breaking the ceasefire.<br /><br />One woman whose house was damaged said: “In our neighbourhood there has been shooting for about a week. This is the third time that it has been so bad. Yesterday it was very bad. It was very close. We were all sitting here.”<br /><br />Eighteen people have been killed since the ceasefire was declared last Friday. <br /><br />Local volunteers in Slovyansk who deliver food to people estimate that around 40 percent of the population has fled the city.<br /><br />Ukraine’s prime minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said the country was facing a new type of conflict.<br /><br />“The situation in the country is too difficult. Unplanned billions are being spent on ensuring the territorial integrity of Ukraine as a state. There is a new form of war being waged against us,” he said.<br /><br />On Wednesday afternoon, leaders of France, German, Ukraine and Russia held a conference call. They talked about extending the current ceasefire which is due to expire on Thursday, the release of prisoners held by both sides and the OSCE helping to oversee a truce.
