SLOVIANSK, June 01 /ITAR-TASS/. Ukraine’s troops have begun mortar shelling of Sloviansk suburbs, a spokesman for Sloviansk’s self-defence volunteer corps told Itar-Tass on Sunday. “Shelling became heavier after dark. They are using mortars and firearms,” he said.

Artillery shelling damaged the buildings of the Sails of Hope children’s home and the research institute, he added. According to the spokesman, a shell hit one of the walls of the children’s home.

“There were no children inside at the moment of shelling - they were evacuated from the town last week,” the spokesman said. As for the research institute, a mine exploded in front of the building breaking all the windows. Apart from that the shelling destroyed trolleybus power lines.

On Sunday evening, shooting was heard in the vicinity of Sloviansk, which is surrounded by the Ukrainian army. “There was a skirmish. No details are available. We are checking who was shooting and from where. Sporadic shooting is heard in the town,” a representative of volunteer corps said.

Earlier on Sunday, five civilians were reported to be wounded as the town came under artillery shelling. As of yet, according to the spokesman, it is impossible to establish the area from where shelling is done. Shooting and explosions are heard in the town. A fighter is reportedly flying over the town.

According to reports coming from Sloviansk, the town is having problems with mobile communications. There are problems with the internet in some of the town’s districts. On Saturday, the town and its suburb Semyonovka came under fire.