Australian detained in Ukraine: report

An Australian man has reportedly been arrested in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine.

The man, who is receiving assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs, was reportedly arrested by Ukranian border guards at a checkpoint in the Donetsk region on Wednesday.

It's believed he is a journalist working within territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

Simeon Boikov of the pro-Moscow Zabaikal Cossack Society says the journalist was covering the conflict from the side of the separatists but was not involved in military activity.

The man was found with ammunition, two knives, a bulletproof vest and media accreditation, Mr Boikov said.

"We are very worried about his safety," he told AAP.

"He could be tortured and killed."

More than 4700 people have died in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is due to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and the leaders of Germany and France for peace talks in Kazakhstan on January 15.