Russia Advances in Ukraine’s Donbas Region, Is Accused of Digging Mass Graves

KHARKIV, Ukraine—Russian forces slowly advanced in their offensive to encircle eastern Ukraine’s Donbas area, as Ukrainian officials said thousands of people have been buried in mass graves in the city of Mariupol, most of which has been seized by Russian troops after nearly two months of combat.

A senior Russian military official, meanwhile, said Russia’s territorial goals extend well beyond Donbas, which Moscow stopped considering as part of Ukraine when President Vladimir Putin in February recognized the independence of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics.