The Ukrainian Armed Forces have been shelling the village of Spartak in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past hour using different types of weapons, Tass News Agency reported quoting the district administration as saying on Saturday.

"First, there was an artillery bombardment from some heavy weapons. Then we heard the tanks, machine guns and mortars," according to a source in the administration.

The Ukrainian military opened fire at the village at around 04.30 a.m., with civilians coming under fire. The source added that on Friday the republic’s authorities had offered to evacuate local residents to a safe place. However, people have repeatedly refused to flee their homes.