The Donbass Arena stadium, the venue of Euro 2012 soccer matches, is pictured after it was damaged by a blast wave following shelling in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, October 20, 2014. Security personnel at the stadium said the recent shelling damaged part of the venue. [Photo/Agencies]

Ordets, a defender, is one of the few Ukrainians on Shakhtar Donetsk, a team that includes 13 Brazilians, more than half its roster. He comes from Volnovakha, a small town near Donetsk, but on the Ukrainian government side of the lines.

Last month, a passenger bus in Volnovakha was hit by a shell, killing 13 people. The Ukrainian government accused the militias, who denied responsibility.

"They're shooting and it's not a calm situation in the town. There's a lot of troops in the town," Ordets said, speaking in a luxury hotel in Kiev that serves as the team's temporary base.

Some neighborhoods of Donetsk have been wrecked by indiscriminate shelling, and its airport - refurbished and modernized for the 2012 European soccer championships - is in ruins.

The Donbass Arena has suffered some exterior damage from the fighting. Security-camera video from Oct 20 showed a person was nearly hit by falling glass from the top of the stadium caused by a shock wave from a nearby explosion.