Ukraine accuses Russia of 'war crimes' targeting civilians as fighting enters Kharkiv

Ukraine has accused Russia of committing "war crimes" in attempt to weaken its country's resistance, as Ukrainian forces engage in fierce fighting with Russian troops in multiple cities across the country.

In the capital Kyiv, residents awoke Sunday to find the city still firmly under Ukrainian control, despite two massive explosions some 30 kilometers, or about 18 miles, south of the city lighting up the sky overnight.
Fighting has broken out on the streets of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, after Russian forces entered the city, Oleh Synehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, said Sunday. Ukrainian forces had managed to deter the Russians for the past three days.
    Russia's unprovoked assault on Ukraine is now entering its fourth day. But despite being far better equipped, Russia has failed to take control of key cities, as ordinary Ukrainians and reservists join efforts to defend their homes and families.
      On Saturday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Russia's offensive was failing and it was now deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure, including kindergartens, residential blocks and "buses with children" -- actions he labeled as "war crimes."
      "For these crimes, the Russian command will surely see military tribunal," Shmyhal said at a press conference Saturday. "The enemy will surely be punished for killing Ukrainian children," Shmyhal said. "The Russian government doesn't understand they are not fighting only with the government, in fact they are fighting against the entire Ukrainian people."
      Russian troops are facing a determined and highly-motivated Ukrainian resistance, resulting in significantly slower progress than Kremlin military planners had first anticipated, according to an assessment issued by Britain's Ministry of Defense late Saturday.
      Russia is also facing unexpected difficulties supplying its forces, and is experiencing heavier losses in personnel, armor and aircraft than expected, two senior United States officials with direct knowledge told.
      Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Borys Kremenetsky told reporters Saturday that Ukraine had captured around 200 Russian soldiers, some of whom were just 19 years old. They were not trained at all and were badly equipped, he said. 
      Russia has yet to establish air supremacy over Ukraine, one US official said, as the Ukrainian Air Force and air defense systems fight for control of the airspace. Without uncontested control of the skies, it becomes more difficult for an army on the move to see and strike targets from the air.