Story highlights
- Separatist militants are thinning on the streets of Donetsk
- Shelling has already pushed some residents to take shelter underground
- Women and children huddled in a basement criticize America
- A fast military advance leaves shattered windows and damaged homes behind
As the Ukrainian military warns of plans to assault this rebel-controlled city, separatist militants are thinning on the streets and their leaders are canceling public appearances.
Government security officials said Monday they were preparing for a "massive assault" on Donetsk, state media reported.
Inside the city, shelling has already pushed some residents underground into cellars and half-built basements.
In a dim labyrinth beneath a government building, dozens of women and children sleep on mattresses they carried below ground to take shelter from the violence.
They say they believe separatists who have told them the Ukrainian army are American-backed fascists, set on attacking ethnic Russians.
Does Putin want war in Ukraine? 01:16
MH17 investigation begins amid violence 02:23
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 sits in a field at the crash site in Hrabove, Ukraine, on September 9, 2014. The Boeing 777 was shot down July 17, 2014, over Ukrainian territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists. All 298 people on board were killed. In an October 2015 report, Dutch investigators found the flight was shot down by a warhead that fit a Buk rocket, referring to Russian technology, Dutch Safety Board Chairman Tjibbe Joustra said.
Hide Caption
1 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Australian and Dutch experts examine the area of the crash on August 3, 2014.
Hide Caption
2 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A woman walks with her bicycle near the crash site on August 2, 2014.
Hide Caption
3 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Police secure a refrigerated train loaded with bodies of passengers from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 as it arrives in a Kharkiv, Ukraine, factory on July 22, 2014.
Hide Caption
4 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A pro-Russian rebel passes wreckage from the crashed jet near Hrabove on Monday, July 21, 2014.
Hide Caption
5 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
– Wreckage from the jet lies in grass near Hrabove on July 21, 2014.
Hide Caption
6 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A man covers his face with a rag as members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Dutch National Forensic Investigations Team inspect bodies in a refrigerated train near the crash site in eastern Ukraine on July 21, 2014.
Hide Caption
7 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Emergency workers carry a victim's body in a bag at the crash site on July 21, 2014.
Hide Caption
8 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A piece of the plane lies in the grass in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region on July 21, 2014.
Hide Caption
9 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
An armed pro-Russian rebel stands guard next to a refrigerated train loaded with bodies in Torez, Ukraine, on Sunday, July 20, 2014.
Hide Caption
10 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Ukrainian State Emergency Service employees sort through debris on July 20, 2014, as they work to locate the deceased.
Hide Caption
11 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A woman covers her mouth with a piece of fabric July 20, 2014, to ward off smells from railway cars that reportedly contained passengers' bodies.
Hide Caption
12 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Toys and flowers sit on the charred fuselage of the jet as a memorial on July 20, 2014.
Hide Caption
13 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
People search a wheat field for remains in the area of the crash site on July 20, 2014.
Hide Caption
14 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A woman walks among charred debris at the crash site on July 20, 2014.
Hide Caption
15 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Emergency workers load the body of a victim onto a truck at the crash site on Saturday, July 19, 2014.
Hide Caption
16 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Emergency workers carry the body of a victim at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Hide Caption
17 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A large piece of the main cabin is under guard at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Hide Caption
18 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Victims' bodies are placed by the side of the road on July 19, 2014, as recovery efforts continue at the crash site. International officials lament the lack of a secured perimeter.
Hide Caption
19 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A man looks through the debris at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Hide Caption
20 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
An envelope bearing the Malaysia Airlines logo is seen at the crash site on July 19, 2014.
Hide Caption
21 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Armed rebels walk past large pieces of the Boeing 777 on July 19, 2014.
Hide Caption
22 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Ukrainian rescue workers walk through a wheat field with a stretcher as they collect the bodies of victims on July 19, 2014.
Hide Caption
23 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A woman looks at wreckage on July 19, 2014.
Hide Caption
24 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe delegation arrives at the crash site on Friday, July 18, 2014.
Hide Caption
25 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A woman walks through the debris field on July 18, 2014.
Hide Caption
26 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Pro-Russian rebels stand guard at the crash site.
Hide Caption
27 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Wreckage from Flight 17 lies in a field in Shaktarsk, Ukraine, on July 18, 2014.
Hide Caption
28 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A man covers a body with a plastic sheet near the crash site on July 18, 2014. The passengers and crew hailed from all over the world, including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Germany and Canada.
Hide Caption
29 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A diver searches for the jet's flight data recorders on July 18, 2014.
Hide Caption
30 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Coal miners search the crash site.
Hide Caption
31 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Wreckage from the Boeing 777 lies on the ground July 18, 2014.
Hide Caption
32 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
People search for bodies of passengers on July 18, 2014.
Hide Caption
33 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A woman walks past a body covered with a plastic sheet near the crash site July 18, 2014.
Hide Caption
34 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Belongings of passengers lie in the grass on July 18, 2014.
Hide Caption
35 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
People inspect the crash site on Thursday, July 17, 2014.
Hide Caption
36 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
People walk amid the debris at the site of the crash.
Hide Caption
37 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Debris smoulders in a field near the Russian border.
Hide Caption
38 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Fire engines arrive at the crash site.
Hide Caption
39 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A man stands next to wreckage.
Hide Caption
40 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Debris from the crashed jet lies in a field in Ukraine.
Hide Caption
41 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Family members of those aboard Flight 17 leave Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Hide Caption
42 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A large piece of the plane lies on the ground.
Hide Caption
43 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Luggage from the flight sits in a field at the crash site.
Hide Caption
44 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A couple walks to the location at Schiphol Airport where more information would be given regarding the flight.
Hide Caption
45 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Flight arrivals are listed at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia.
Hide Caption
46 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Debris from the Boeing 777, pictured on July 17, 2014.
Hide Caption
47 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A man inspects debris from the plane.
Hide Caption
48 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Wreckage from the plane is seen on July 17, 2014.
Hide Caption
49 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A man talks with security at Schiphol Airport on July 17, 2014.
Hide Caption
50 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
Wreckage burns in Ukraine.
Hide Caption
51 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A man stands next to the wreckage of the airliner.
Hide Caption
52 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Hide Caption
53 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
People inspect a piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Hide Caption
54 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A piece of wreckage believed to be from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Hide Caption
55 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A piece of wreckage believed to be from MH17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Hide Caption
56 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
An airsickness bag believed to be from MH17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Hide Caption
57 of 58
Photos: Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crashes in Ukraine
A piece of wreckage believed to be from MH17. This image was posted to Twitter.
Hide Caption
58 of 58
"They crush us, the damn Americans. What are they doing? Where there is war in the world, they have a part," one woman said.
Above ground, the grief and anger are more vivid, near where a school was hit.
"They are unworthy, because they are fascists, the government, why do they have to shoot innocent people?" resident Svetlana Ivanovna said.
Rima Denisovna returned home Monday to find glass covering her bed.
Ukraine's army has used a lot of artillery in its fast advance, but it's unclear who fired the shells here that shattered her windows.
Denisovna, who was staying with her daughter when the shells hit, knows one thing.
"If I'd been asleep here," she said, "I would have died."
