Ukraine Minister Dives for Cover as Frontline Heats Up

But it is Ukraine which complains that it is under attack — two soldiers were killed on Saturday — and President Joe Biden says U.S. intelligence indicates that Russia plans to invade. 

One of the dead, 35-year-old Captain Anton Sidorov and father-of-three, was shot dead near Novoluganske, scene of the minister's shelling incident.   

If the more than 150,000 Russian soldiers Kyiv and Washington say are massed on the border do launch an assault, they will have to pass through frontline communities like Novoluganske.  

Andriy, a 26-year-old infantryman from the city of Kharkiv, is based here, and confirmed that the situation is "heating up."

"The situation is even worse than yesterday, they've been firing 152 mm heavy artillery," he told AFP. "There are wounded in several battalions." 

There were 4,000 people in the town before the conflict erupted, isolated by potholed roads and now by minefields marked by little painted red posts.

Only 3 kilometers (less than 2 miles) from the rebel frontline, the town lives in a sort of no-man's land and many of the homes have been abandoned.

"We're not afraid," boasts 10-year-old Ruslan, wandering with his German Shepherd and a few friends between the ruined city stadium and the Ukrainian army command post.

Elena Valerievna, the 50-year-old owner of a small grocery store, is less afraid to admit that recent days have been a trial.

"It's been a long time since there was such a bombardment," she said. "I wish there was peace, calm, tranquility. That's what I want, not war, but I fear that's impossible."