Four civilians were killed in renewed fighting in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine on Monday despite a ceasefire, the local authorities said.

Three were killed and five injured in shelling in the rebel-held city of Donetsk, while another died in the nearby town of Makiyivka, the city authorities said.

AFP correspondents had reported persistent shelling on Monday around Donetsk airport, where the Ukrainian military said it has fought off several assaults by pro-Moscow separatists.

Another six civilians were killed in heavy bombardments in a district a few kilometres from the airport on Sunday, the bloodiest day since the shaky truce took effect on September 5.