Ukraine has said tens of thousands of people have likely been killed in Russia's assault on the south-eastern city of Mariupol while the country's rights ombudswoman accused Russian forces in the region of torture and executions.
Reuters has confirmed widespread destruction in Mariupol but could not verify the alleged crimes or the estimate of those killed in the strategic city, which lies between Russian-annexed Crimea and eastern areas of Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists.
"Mariupol has been destroyed, there are tens of thousands of dead, but even despite this, the Russians are not stopping their offensive," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address to South Korean politicians without providing more details.
If confirmed, it would be by far the largest number of dead so far reported in one place in Ukraine, where cities, towns and villages have come under relentless bombardment and bodies, including civilians, have been seen in the streets.
The head of the Russia-backed self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, told Russia's RIA news agency today that more than 5,000 people may have been killed in Mariupol. He said Ukrainian forces were responsible.
Citing figures from Mariupol's city administration, Ukraine's human rights ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said 33,000 residents of Mariupol had been deported to Russia or territories held by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Russia said yesterday it had "evacuated" 723,000 people from Ukraine since the start of what it called its "special operation". Moscow denies attacking civilians.
"Witnesses report that Russian national guard troops and 'Kadyrovite' (Chechen) units are making illegal arrests, torturing detainees and executing them for any pro-Ukrainian stance," in Mariupol, Ms Denisova said in a post on Telegram.
The Russian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the torture allegations.
Ukraine has said it expected Russia to launch a huge new offensive soon, as Moscow shifts its focus to seizing territory in the east after its invasion force was driven from the gates of Kyiv this month.
The first EU leader to meet Vladimir Putin face-to-face since the war began, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, gave a grim account of his talks with the Russian leader held at a residence outside Moscow.
"I generally have no optimistic impression that I can report to you from this conversation with President Putin," he said. "The offensive (in eastern Ukraine) is evidently being prepared on a massive scale."
After withdrawing forces from northern Ukraine, including suburbs of Kyiv lain to waste under its occupation, Russia now says its main objective is eastern Ukraine. It is demanding Kyiv cede control of swathes of territory there, known as the Donbas, to separatist fighters. Kyiv says it is girding for a new battle.
"We forecast that active combat will begin in these areas in the nearest time," Ukraine's defence ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said.
A US official said Washington believed Russia was trying to reinforce and resupply its troops in the Donbas.
The biggest prize Russia aims to capture in the Donbas is Mariupol, the main eastern port, where thousands of people are believed to have died under a near-seven week siege.
If Russia finally captures it, it could better link troops advancing from the east with those from Crimea, and shift their focus to a new attempt to encircle the main Ukrainian force in the east.
Russia was concentrating tens of thousands of troops for its new assault in the east, Mr Zelensky said.
Ukraine's military commander-in-chief, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, insisted Mariupol's defenders were still holding out.
"We are doing the possible and impossible for the victory and the preservation of the lives of personnel and civilians in all directions," General Zaluzhniy said. "Believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine!"
Earlier, a post on the Facebook page of a brigade of marines holding out in Mariupol said they had run out of ammunition and were now facing death or capture, with today likely to be the "ultimate battle". Petro Andryushchenko, an aide to the Mariupol mayor, said the page had been hacked and the post was fake. Reuters could not independently verify it.
British intelligence said Ukrainian forces had already pushed back several Russian assaults in eastern regions.
Russia would not pause the fighting for any new round of peace talks, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
"A decision was made that during the next rounds of talks, there would be no pause (in military action) so long as a final agreement is not reached," Mr Lavrov said.
Britain's defence ministry said Russian shelling continued in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which together form the Donbas. But Ukrainian forces had beaten back several assaults and destroyed Russian tanks, vehicles and artillery equipment, it said in its regular intelligence bulletin.
Russia's defence ministry said its sea-launched missiles yesterday destroyed S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems which had been supplied to Ukraine by a European country. The systems were concealed in a hangar on the outskirts of Dnipro in central Ukraine, it said. Reuters could not confirm this.
As Russian forces have retreated from the outskirts of Kyiv they left behind evidence of Ukrainian civilians killed under their occupation, in what Western countries have condemned as war crimes. Moscow has rejected the accusations and denies targeting civilians.
Last week, Russia also killed 57 people, according to Ukrainian officials, in a missile strike on a train station in the Donetsk region, where thousands of civilians were trying to flee the expected new Russian advance.
Moscow denied blame for the strike. The Russian missile that hit the station had the words "for the children" written on the side.
Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai, speaking to Ukrainian television today, said shelling in the region was increasing day by day.
"The most difficult situation is in Rubizhne and Popasna. They are being shelled constantly, round the clock," Mr Gaidai said, referring to cities in the region.
He urged all civilians to evacuate.
"Those that wanted to leave have already left, while now many are left in bomb shelters who are perhaps frightened to come out of the shelters, or scared to lose their possessions."
Just outside the Donbas region, the main eastern city Kharkiv came under heavy shelling today, causing multiple casualties including one child who was killed, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a televised interview.
Mr Terekhov said that Ukrainian forces were focused and ready to defend the city if it comes under a new attack: "There is no panic in the city," he said.
