Separatists man a checkpoint outside the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk.

A billboard says "we need peace."

But they are not giving up the fight.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRO-RUSSIAN REBEL, NO NAME GIVEN, SAYING (INTERRUPTED IN THE END BY MORTAR ATTACK):

"We are defending our motherland. And we don't want some Western people to come here and rule over us. We just won't simply allow this. There are a lot of miners here, a lot of builders, ordinary people..."

After the Ukrainian military pushed the rebels out of their stronghold in Slaviansk last week, they are now trying to hold ground in Donetsk, a city of nearly a million people.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRO-RUSSIAN REBEL, NOM DE GUERRE "LEOPAKHA", SAYING:

"This is our land. We are not touching them. It is them who are coming. We want a peaceful life, we don't need them coming here and bombing us. That's why we are here."

While the separatists are still given a warm welcome in the city -- t