Political | Process

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia’s strategic defeat is “already obvious,” accusing the Kremlin’s forces of trying to hide the truth with missile, air and artillery strikes.

His comments come as Russia is seen investing “significant effort” around the cities of Izium and Severodonetsk in a bid to achieve a breakthrough in eastern Ukraine, according to U.K. military intelligence.

A Russian soldier is due to stand trial on Friday for killing an unarmed Ukrainian citizen. It marks the first alleged war crime since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24.

The United Nations has confirmed 3,573 civilian deaths and 3,816 civilian injuries in Ukraine since Russia invaded its ex-Soviet neighbor on Feb. 24.

The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said the death toll in Ukraine is likely higher, because the armed conflict can delay reports.

The international body said most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, as well as missiles and airstrikes.

Kyiv will be starting its evening curfew one hour later, at 11 p.m. rather than 10 p.m. beginning Sunday, the city’s mayor Vitali Klitschko announced via messaging app Telegram. Its end time of 5 a.m. will remain unchanged. Public transport hours will also be extended beginning Monday.

“Subway – from 06:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Ground public transport – from 06:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Observe the curfew rules,” Klitschko’s message read.

“And also – do not neglect air raid signals! Threat of missile attacks on Kyiv remains.”

Foreign diplomats have been returning to Kyiv and reopening their embassies there in a show of support for Ukraine and confidence in the city’s ability to defend itself, though it continues to receive sporadic rocket attacks.