Updated

Donetsk City Council says three people have been killed and five were injured in overnight shelling in the eastern Ukrainian city, as government forces tighten their grip on the pro-Russian rebel stronghold.

The Council said in a statement on its website Thursday that several residential buildings had been damaged in a neighborhood about 7 kilometers (4 miles) from the city's central square. The council said the buildings were hit by shelling. There was no mention of further aerial attacks, which were reported in the city on Wednesday.

As the rebels struggle to push back Kiev's forces, fears of Russian intervention have grown. Western leaders have accused Russia of massing troops on the border with Ukraine, although Russia has denied claims about a military buildup.