- TYjKhggRussian forces hold most of Kherson region in southern Ukraine and officials in charge have suggested a referendum on joining Russia could be held within the coming weeks or months.
In Donbas, Russian proxies seized chunks of territory in 2014, held independence referendums and proclaimed "people's republics" in Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The Kremlin recognized the republics on the eve of the February invasion.
The governor of Luhansk region — almost entirely under Russian control for several weeks — suggested over the weekend that Russia was preparing for a new referendum in newly captured areas and was offering residents benefits for taking part.
Battle to control Donbas
Putin's troops are trying to gain control of the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine where pro-Moscow separatists seized territory after the Kremlin annexed Crimea to the south in 2014.
Russian forces stepped up their attacks north and northwest of Donetsk city in the Donbas on Sunday, Ukraine's military said. The Russians attacked Ukrainian positions near the heavily fortified settlements of Piski and Avdiivka, as well as shelling other locations in the Donetsk region, it said.
Kyiv also says Russia was strengthening in southern Ukraine to prevent a potential counter-offensive near Kherson.
More ships cleared to depart
Elsewhere, four more ships carrying agricultural cargo held up by the war received authorization Sunday to leave Ukraine's Black Sea coast, under a deal to export grain trapped since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly six months ago.
The body overseeing the international agreement intended to get some 18 million tonnes of grain out of Ukraine and to feed impoverished people in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia said the loaded vessels were expected to depart Chornomorsk and Odesa on Monday.
3 more ships with grain depart Ukraine ports under UN deal
Monitors said the ships would be transporting more than 155,000 tonnes of corn combined. One carrier is destined for Istanbul, another is headed to Nantong in China and a third is going to Turkey's Iskenderun port on the Mediterranean.
The fourth ship cleared for departure is carrying more than 5,900 tonnes of sunflower oil to Monopoli, Italy.