Putin has described Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod and other regions as an effort to frighten residents and derail the highly orchestrated election that ended Sunday. And he vowed to strike back.
Ukraine launched an attack on a Russian navy base near a major port on Friday, according to Russia's defence ministry. Russian social media users reported hearing explosions and gunfire near the port.
The head of Russia's Wagner private military company on Monday claimed the capture of the east Ukraine town of Bakhmut "in a legal sense", saying his units had taken the main city administration building. In a video accompanying the post, Prigozhin could be seen holding a Russian flag inscribed in honour of Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky, who was killed in a bomb attack in a cafe in Saint Petersburg on Sunday.
At least 13 people have died and more than 40 are injured as a Russian missile hits a busy shopping mall in central Ukraine, according to a local governor.