Australian photojournalist Bryce Wilson was talking on Immediately this morning near the border with rebel-controlled areas of jap Ukraine now occupied by Russian forces.
Amid the rising tensions 1000's of Ukrainian civilians have acquired navy coaching, with footage exhibiting an aged lady holding a gun throughout one drill.
Mr Wilson stated artillery fireplace had broken properties and infrastructure on the entrance line between areas below Ukrainian authorities management and the separatist-ruled areas.
He additionally stated Ukrainian troopers and defence volunteers had been killed and injured.
"Extra Ukrainian troopers have been killed. Extra have been wounded. I used to be listening to artillery fireplace many of the day right now," Mr Wilson stated.
"Issues are getting, like, a lot, a lot worse right here. Persons are frightened."
Convoys of armoured autos have been seen rolling throughout Ukraine's separatist-controlled territories in a single day.
It wasn't instantly clear in the event that they have been Russian however NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg stated on Tuesday that "we noticed final evening that additional Russian troops moved into the Donbas into components of Donetsk and Lugansk".
The Ukrainian authorities has dominated out mobilising its armed forces however has known as up reservists. For previous weeks, it has additionally been coaching 1000's of civilians in primary navy coaching.
Wilson stated he believed the rising tensions will danger direct confrontation between the Russian navy and Ukrainian authorities forces.
"It actually does look like there may be going to be battle the place with out hiding the navy forces of the Russian Federation who've invaded Ukraine once more ... in direct fight with the Ukrainian armed forces."
Wilson stated he was not sure whether or not Mr Putin would order a full-scale invasion of Ukraine however stated he feared there can be a "important" battle in Donbas.
"Based mostly on what I am seeing and my historical past of getting labored right here, I actually do suppose that there's going to be a conflict Donbas."
Over previous months Ukraine has been making ready its armed forces in addition to 1000's of civilian volunteers who've been given primary navy coaching.
Australian resident returns to Ukraine
Australian resident Pixie Schmigel has informed how she determined to return to Ukraine this week regardless of the growing danger of conflict with Russia.
Ms Schmigel stated she is staying within the metropolis of Lviv, near the Polish border.
She determined to fly to Ukraine to assist in giving the nation's youthful folks a voice, she stated.
"We do not hear a lot from folks like me, who're younger and rising up in Ukraine or younger and in Australia with Ukrainian heritage. We now have a extremely passionate and distinct identification."