Russia promises to retake ‘complete control’ of Ukraine’s east and south.

Russia said on Friday that it will battle to seize control of all of Ukraine’s east and south, but Kyiv vowed to safeguard the country as the UN confirmed scores of civilians slain in one town.

The Ukrainian government, buoyed by an infusion of Western weapons, claimed its embattled fighters were still fighting inside a large steelworks in the wrecked port city of Mariupol.

Nearly two months after President Vladimir Putin launched the surprise invasion of Russia’s Western-leaning neighbour, the Kremlin has declared “liberation” of Mariupol, which is critical to its war preparations.