Ukraine says that announcing a planned offensive on the southern front has paid off in the eastern Donbas region, as both sides deploy forces based on guessing each other’s next moves.
Most residents have fled the eastern city of Sloviansk before an expected Russian assault. About half of the 23,000 remaining are eager to welcome the invaders.
A railway station in eastern Ukraine had been a main departure point for people seeking to escape an expected Russian onslaught. A rocket assault left at least 50 dead.