DHAKA: A shell has killed four people at a school in the rebel-held east Ukrainian city of Donetsk in Ukraine, on the first day of classes, BBC reports.

Another six people died when a minibus was hit elsewhere in Donetsk.

No children were apparently hurt when the school playground was shelled but a biology teacher and a parent were among the dead, witnesses told Reuters.

The school is 4km (2.5 miles) from Donetsk airport, where rebels have clashed with Ukrainian troops.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in eastern Ukraine since 5 September but the truce has frequently been violated.

BDST: 1141 HRS, OCT 02, 2014