Ukraine's richest man, Rinat Akhmetov, is calling for peace as shelling rages on across the country.

The man with a workforce of 300,000 in Donbass hopes the city won't get involved.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) UKRAINIAN BUSINESSMAN HAVING INFLUENCE IN DONETSK REGION, RINAT AKHMETOV, SAYING:

"I don't want coffins from Donbass to come back to western Ukraine. I don't want coffins to come back to central Ukraine and other regions of our country. I don't want people to die in Donbass. That's why I always called, I am calling and I will call for peace."

While his fortune is valued at more than $11 billion, it may take more than words and money to stem the violence in other parts of Ukraine.

Tensions in Donesk are high, as pro-Russian separatists come after having been pushed out of Slaviansk by Ukrainian forces.

And in Luhansk, video obtained by Reuters shows firefighters battling a blaze after shelling killed at least two.

Ukrainian President Petro Poro