Back to school in rebel east Ukraine - to the sound of bombs and Soviet songs

MAKIYIVKA Ukraine (Reuters) - On the first day of school outside the east Ukrainian rebel stronghold of Donetsk, 11th-grade teacher Yelena Sepik tells her class to get out of their seats to clap and sing along to the Soviet military music playing over the speakers.

"Louder!" she yells, theatrically clapping in rhythm to the music coming from a classroom CD player in front of around 30 unamused 15- and 16-year-olds in the town of Makiyivka.