The art of war in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk, where artist Viktor Mikhalyov is using scattered shell fragments to make a statement.

A victim of months of heavy fighting between pro-Russian separatists and forces from Kiev, he's uses the shells to make sculptures.

He says he got the idea when fighting came close to his home.

(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) DONETSK ARTIST VIKTOR MIKHALYOV, SAYING:

"We collect shell fragments as we are planning to make a stella. But these parts, as you can see, the explosive ones, I cut them with a grinder and I use them when I plan to make something, some composition. But mainly - it will be a stella, a war memorial."

He hopes to one day present one of his pieces, a replica of the Russian Imperial Crown, to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While the region has succumbed to sporadic fighting since a September ceasefire was implemented, the past few days have been silent.

Though the fragments of a torn country ma