The fighting between Ukrainian forces and the pro-Russian separatists who claim Donetsk as one of their strongholds delayed the start of the school year there.
However, as school was opening Wednesday morning, shells hit a school playground, killing at least ten people.
None of those who died were students because they had already gone inside the school building.
The BBC's James Coomarasamy, who was visiting another school at the time, reports.
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