Ukraine has accused Russia of looting empty houses in the southern city of Kherson and occupying them with troops in civilian clothes.
And Kiev officials claim this is part of preparations for “close fighting” in what both sides predict will be one of the most important battles of the war.
In recent days, Russia has ordered civilians to leave Kherson, a city it has occupied since the early stages of the war. While Kiev has accused Moscow of forced deportations.
Meanwhile, accounts of life under Russian occupation from those who managed to escape have begun to emerge.
Some talk about the need to hide their phones from their bodies and the impossibility of contact with the outside world.
“The Russians went from house to house with guns and said ‘let me see your phone,'” said a refugee from the village of Kachkirivka.
“Then they put him in a bucket and took him to their car.” Russia has imposed martial law and restricted communications in the four Ukrainian regions it illegally annexed in September.