Russian forces pounded Ukraine’s cities and moved tens of thousands of troops to encircle Kyiv as Vladimir Putin turned to more brutal military tactics on the sixth day of his invasion.
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, accused Russia of war crimes after a missile hit the centre of Kharkiv in one of the most destructive attacks on a densely populated urban area since Moscow launched its military offensive.
Stung by five days of unexpectedly slow progress, Russia has shifted its approach, pouring more troops and armour into Ukraine and stepping up its use of artillery and other unguided weapons on cities including Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Kherson.
The rocket attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv on Tuesday targeted a key local government building, which was engulfed by a ball of fire. Videos of the aftermath showed the entire Independence Square covered in rubble and the windows blown out of several adjacent buildings.
In a video statement, Zelensky…