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Russia intensifies shelling of Ukrainian cities as Zelensky claims offensive has been halted
Smoke rises after Russian rocket strikes on Lviv

RUSSIA intensified shelling of towns in Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk and Lugansk today, killing and wounding dozens of civilians.

Its troops also redoubled their assault on the Azovstal steel mill in occupied Mariupol.

Claims and counter-claims over Moscow’s aims traded as the Kremlin dismissed speculation that it intended to declare war on Ukraine on May 9, the anniversary of Nazi Germany’s surrender to the Soviet Union. 

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