This deadly bus attack is a stark reminder that Ukraine’s conflict is far from over

KYIV, Ukraine — Fears of intensifying violence in eastern Ukraine were realized on Tuesday after 11 civilians were killed when their bus came under rocket fire at a Ukrainian checkpoint near the rebel stronghold of Donetsk.

The attack — which both Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists have blamed on one another — came shortly after a planned summit in Kazakhstan this week featuring Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany was postponed.

It also coincided with the reportedly intense shelling of the Donetsk airport, whose tattered shell has for months been a symbol of resistance for both sides. The shelling was captured by the Berlin-based video agency Ruptly:

Tuesday’s missile strike — part of what top NATO military commander Philip Breedlove said has been a “fairly important uptick” in fighting in recent days — is likely to further stoke bitter emotions on both sides of the monthslong conflict, which has claimed nearly 5,000 lives.

Many of those casualties are civilians, adding a greater sense of horror to a war both local and international actors have so far been unable to end, despite a nominal September ceasefire.

The rocket strike, which local police said came from rebel-held territory, appeared to serve as another flashpoint for finger-pointing between the two sides. (The downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine last July, in which 298 people died, was another.)

Some pro-Ukraine Twitter users, for example, have attempted to spread a #WeAreVolnovakha hashtag, in reference to the town about 30 miles south of Donetsk where the strike took place.

Ukrainian officials, who say separatists receive crucial Russian military support, aren't optimistic that the violence will de-escalate soon.

“The Russian military and the terrorists have deliberately chosen the tactic of escalation of tension,” military spokesman Andriy Lysenko was quoted as saying by Reuters.