First, the white flag is still a thing. It worked just great for Ukrainian regulars in Crimea.
Second, the shelling is mostly uniquely done by the Ukrainian forces whereas the opposite side is doing the counter-battery.
It is easily proven by the regularly posted maps of shelling by OSCE, wherein LDNR the population centers are getting hit and forests on the Ukrainian side. Data on casualties supports this conclusion because they are mostly women and children in LDNR and exclusively military in Ukraine.
There is evidence of shelling by both sides since the Russian incursion into Ukraine.
There is no firm evidence to suggest that Ukraine has initiated the shelling. In fact, the illegal Prescence of Russians and Russian equipment is the initial salvo.
Now Russia has escalated to invasion.
Regardless of actions at this point, Biden has frucked it up again, taking his Sudetenland award.