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By Victoria Butenko and Jason Hanna, CNN

updated 3:22 PM EDT, Wed October 1, 2014

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) -- A shell landed near a school as children began their school year in the war-weary eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk on Wednesday morning, killing at least three adults and shattering what would have been a step toward normalcy for dozens of students.

Shells also hit a public transit bus in the city about the same time, killing six people in or near the vehicle, city officials said.

The shelling in Donetsk, held for months by pro-Russian rebels, came despite a ceasefire that Ukraine's government reached with separatist leaders last month.

A shell landed 5 meters from Donetsk's School 57 about 10 a.m., shattering windows and doors on the first and second floors, local officials said. It was the first day of the school year in rebel-controlled areas of the Donetsk region, a debut that was delayed by a month because of shelling and clashes between separatists and the Ukrainian military.

Conflicting reports emerged over how many people were killed at the school. Officials at the rebel-held city office said a biology teacher and two parents died, and five other people were injured.

Crisis in Ukraine

Crisis in Ukraine

Excerpt from:
Shells hit Ukraine bus, school