--- description: Rebels and Ukrainian forces are battling in Donetsk, critically undermining hopes that a four-month-old truce agreement can be implemented title: Ukraine: Fresh Fighting Erupts image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta73701991c05247c/69877ac2e53aba1e0d4d71f0/ukraine-army-soldier.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Fighting Has Flared Up in Ukraine, Raising Fears of All-Out War Once Again ## Video: Vladimir Putin's Year in Review [Watch (HLS stream): Vladimir Putin's Year in Review](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/kIRZQPUV.m3u8) (3:46)  _Published 2014-12-10. From the annexation of Crimea to the crisis in Eastern Ukraine, this Person of the Year runner-up left an indelible mark on 2014_ by [Sabrina Toppa](/author/sabrina-toppa/) ## Sabrina Toppa Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 20, 2015 7:45 AM CUT  A new volunteer for the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's Azov battalion embraces his girlfriend before he and other volunteers depart to the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, in central Kiev on Jan. 17, 2015. A new volunteer for the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's Azov battalion embraces his girlfriend before he and other volunteers depart to the frontlines in eastern Ukraine, in central Kiev on Jan. 17, 2015.Gleb Garanich—Reuters by [Sabrina Toppa](/author/sabrina-toppa/) ## Sabrina Toppa Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jan 20, 2015 7:45 AM CUT Civilians came into the cross fire on Monday when pro-Russian fighters and Ukrainian forces [battled](http://news.yahoo.com/fighting-eases-donetsk-ukraine-claims-airport-victory-112929288.html "undefined") in the rebel-controlled city center of Donetsk, critically undermining hopes that an already shaky four-month-old truce agreement can be implemented. Shells struck a hospital, wounding a doctor and five patients. A nearby university was also hit, sparking speculations that the target was the nearby rebel security ministry. In the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, an explosion wounded 12 civilians around a courthouse where the trial of what Agence France-Presse describes as a “pro-Western militant” was under way. In the nearby city of Debaltseve, three people died and 12 were left wounded during an exchange of heavy artillery fire. Rebels purportedly launched attacks from residential areas, putting many civilians on the front line. The worsening crisis comes amid allegations that approximately 700 Russian fighters have slipped into Ukraine this week. Ukraine has frequently accused Russia of backing the pro-Russian separatists with increased arms and manpower. Meanwhile, a fierce battle is taking place for control of Donetsk airport. Ukrainian presidential adviser Yuriy Biryukov said on Facebook that there were “many injured” after rebels blew up part of a terminal building, Bloomberg [reports](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-19/ukraine-says-russian-troops-cross-border-near-battle-for-airport.html "undefined"). The U.N. Security Council will hold a meeting about the Ukrainian crisis on Wednesday. The conflict in Ukraine has killed nearly 5,000 since April 2014. \[[_AFP_](http://news.yahoo.com/fighting-eases-donetsk-ukraine-claims-airport-victory-112929288.html "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3673979/ukraine-fighting-donetsk-university-hospital/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3673979/ukraine-fighting-donetsk-university-hospital/"},"headline":"Fighting Has Flared Up in Ukraine, Raising Fears of All-Out War Once Again","datePublished":"2015-01-20T07:45:19.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:08:17.602Z","description":"Renewed clashes come days ahead of a U.N. 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