Shelling hits eastern Ukraine amid escalating fears of Russian invasion

Ukrainian soldiers (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

Hundreds of artillery shells have exploded along the contact line between Ukrainian soldiers and Russia-backed separatists, and thousands of people evacuated eastern Ukraine, further increasing fears that the volatile region could see a Russian invasion.

Western leaders have warned that Russia is poised to attack its neighbour, which is surrounded on three sides by about 150,000 Russian soldiers, warplanes and equipment.