Militants shell eastern Ukraine airport

London, July 11 (IANS) Pro-Russian militants shelled eastern Ukrainian city Donetsk's airport, a media report said Friday.

Rebel and government forces have confirmed that Donetsk airport came under fire late Thursday, BBC reported.

According to witnesses, explosions and machine-gun fire could be heard near the airport, and they saw rockets launched towards it.

The pro-Russian militants said they were continuing an offensive on the airport, which has been held by Ukrainian government forces after it was briefly captured by the rebels in May.

Ukrainian military spokesman Vladyslav Seleznyov confirmed the shelling on his Facebook page.