Ukraine announced plans to reclaim Donetsk as its troops fought with rebels on Saturday and tried to gain control over Horlivka, a city just outside the pro-Russian stronghold in Donetsk.

Ukrainian forces have been steadily gaining momentum in recent weeks.

Security and Defense Council spokesperson Andriy Lysenko said that its military has already regained control over a number of territories in the past week, citing some 10 villages and towns previously seized by pro-Russian separatists.

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Lysenko declared that Donetsk would be next area liberated from separatist control.

Once Horlivka is reclaimed, a direct route to Donetsk would be available, he said, adding that its military has already placed roadblocks to prevent the terrorists from receiving outside- supplies, equipment and reinforcements.

But increased rebel assistance from Russia has been observed.

According to the Washington Post, some 15,000 Russian troops are believed to be stationed in the Donetsk border, with numbers rising each day.

U.S. and Ukraine intelligence note that Russia seems to be increasing efforts to support the rebels. Moscow's involvement has been noted, most especially following the July 17 crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 after it was hit by a missile from a rebel-controlled territory.

Meanwhile, Donetsk residents rushed to flee the city to avoid being caught in the crossfire after Ukrainian forces engaged the rebels, Saturday night.

While the city had been witness to sustained fighting in recent weeks, the situation seemed to have escalated overnight.

With the train no longer running, long lines of cars could be seen plying the roads leading south of the city.

CNN cited Russian news group, Interfax, which reported a dramatic growth in the number of Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum in the Russian border.

Russian Emergency Situations Ministry spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky said an additional 4,600 refugees have been transported to temporary camps in the last 24 hours, reaching a figure of more than 31,000 people now living in such camps.

Tagspro-Russia separatist, Andriy Lysenko, Horlivka, Alexander Drobyshevsky, Ukraine forces, Ukrainian refugees, Donetsk residents