As day 27 of Putin’s war on Ukraine comes to an end, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says there is “nothing left” of the port city of Mariupol

Calls to Moscow to allow civilians to evacuate the region are seemingly falling on deaf ears, as the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.

The United States now has “clear evidence” Russian forces are “deliberately and intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure, hospitals and places of shelter”.

A senior defence official told CNN America has witnessed “indications of behaviour” by Russian forces that would “constitute war crimes”.

US President Joe Biden is gearing up to travel to Europe, meeting with his European counterparts in a move designed to strengthen Western alliances.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says the allies will work collaboratively on imposing increased sanctions and further isolating Russia from the rest of the world.

Sullivan also notes Russia will never achieve the purpose it set out.

In Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv, a Ukrainian counterattack has seemingly stalled Russian forces, and jeopardised their efforts to encircle the city.

It is likely going to be difficult for Russia to resupply the forward units that are exposed to the north of the capital.

Ukrainian soldiers have draped their national flag over a building in a town 65 kilometres west of Kyiv, with the nation’s armed forces saying they have regained control of the area.

HERE’S WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW

• Mariupol left in ruins following relentless Russian attacks.
• Ukrainian President Zelensky spoke to Pope Francis… suggesting the Vatican could play a mediating role in ending the war
• Russian forces are attempting to cut Ukraine off from the Black Sea… shelling the outskirts of Odesa.
• More than 15,000 Russian troops have been killed since the start of the war…
• United Nations confirms around 3.5 million Ukrainian residents have fled their country since Putin’s war began.