Ukraine reports widespread shelling and air attacks by Russia on scores of towns and military bases, especially in the east where Moscow is trying to expand territory, as fighting rages on day 171.
"We expect Russia to manipulate the results of these referendums and falsely claim Ukrainians want to join Russia," says a senior Biden administration official and warns the "land grab" will not go unchallenged.
Moscow and Kiev accuse each other of bombing a jail holding Ukrainian prisoners in Russian-held territory amid fierce fighting on day 157 of the military conflict.
Ukraine's southern command says more than 100 Russian soldiers and seven tanks were destroyed in fresh fighting.
The Russian army and separatists accused Kiev's forces of striking the jail holding Ukrainian prisoners — a charge vehemently denied by Ukraine, which in turn pointed fingers at Moscow's forces.
The British defence ministry says the move shows Russian forces are under pressure and that the mercenaries are unlikely to make up for the loss of regular infantry units.
As the conflict enters its 155th day, Russia launches missile strikes on Kiev and Chernihiv regions, areas that haven't been targeted in weeks, while Ukraine focuses on taking back an occupied region in the south.
Russia targets Kiev and Chernihiv regions and redeploys troops to the south, with the Ukrainian military continuing its counter-offensive in the occupied southern region of Kherson.
The Ukrainian army, emboldened by deliveries of Western-supplied long-range artillery, has been clawing back territory in the Kherson region in recent weeks.
Criticism has been mounting against Russia since missiles hit Ukraine’s port city Odessa after recent Türkiye-led grain deal raised hope for relaxing global food shortage as fighting continues on 151st day.
Missiles hit Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, killing over 20 people including three children, as EU officials convene in The Hague to discuss atrocities in Ukraine on the 141st day of fighting.
Russian and Ukrainian officials hold talks in Istanbul over stalled grain deliveries, while Kiev says it has destroyed a Russian arms depot as fighting rages on the 140th day.
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