Ukraine envoy at the United Nations said that terror against civilians and mass graves were counted among some of the ‘war crimes’ as Russia’s offensive entered Day 20 in the war-hit nation.

The Ukrainian representative to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, said that the Russian troops have ‘erased all difference’ between them and ‘their Nazi predecessors 80 years ago.

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Addressing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the Ambassador said, “Russian troops continue to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine, erasing any difference with their Nazi predecessors 80 years ago. Cities, raising to the ground, mass graves, terror against civilians…”

Meanwhile, Ivan Fedorov said, “The mayor of Melitopol was detained by Russian soldiers on 11 March. He is reportedly being tortured due to his refusal to collaborate with the aggressor. I reiterate my call to UNSC to facilitate his release.”

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On Monday, Russia and Ukraine kept a fragile diplomatic path open with a new round of talks even as Moscow’s forces pounded away at Kyiv and other cities across the country in a punishing bombardment that the Red Cross said has created “nothing short of a nightmare” for the civilian population. A fresh round of talks will be held Tuesday.

As many as 2,178 civilians have lost their lives in the port city of Mariupol since the clash began on February 24, the city council said as per news agency AFP. At least 35 people were killed and 134 injured after Russian rockets targeted a military base near Lviv in Ukraine.

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Millions more have fled their homes, with more than 2.8 million crossing into Poland and other neighbouring countries in what the United Nations has called Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since World War 2.