{O/C} The running battle in the Mariupol steel mill plant resumed today after civilians were evacuated.
This, as U.S. officials conjecture Russia is planning to seize the bulk of eastern Ukraine.
{Take SOT}
{Soundbite} MICHAEL CARPENTER, U.S. ambassador to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe: According to the most recent reports, we believe that Russia will try to annex the Donetsk "people's republic" and Luhansk "people's republic", in quotes, so-called, to Russia.
{VO}
Carpenter's words indicate Moscow's suspected actions will not be tolerated.
There's also conjecture that Russian-engineered sham plebiscites are also being planned in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in addition to a farcical independence vote in Kherson prior to seizing control of much of eastern Ukraine.
Giving a wide berth to the aggressive Russia was well-nigh impossible given more than 1 million civilians have been led into Russia over the past two months, according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
They include some from the besieged steel plant in Mariupol.
A Russian official said the civilians were freed from a country now in shambles.
Following the evacuation of some 100 civilians from that Mariupol steel mill, Russia didn't back down. Bombs rained down yet again after the lull to completely flatten the plant.
{Soundbite} JOHN KIRBY, Pentagon Spokesman: The fighting in Mariupol is not done, certainly not from what we can see because they continue to bombard it.
{VO}
Amid images of some 50 Russian military helicopters hovering near the Ukrainian border, the British military suggested Russian boots on the ground were significantly weaker on the heels of colossal losses in Kyiv.
{Upsound 01:44 - 01:45}
Meantime, firefighters rushed to douse the blazes here in the Black Sea port of Odesa after Russian missiles lashed buildings, killing a teen boy and wounding another minor.
Three months after Russia crossed the Rubicon and Mariupol residents were confronted with this sorry sight -- pulverised homes and mangled roofs.
{Upsound 02:12 - 02:13}
This unbending resident hit the ceiling, but insisted on staying put while Russia continues to play fast and loose with civilian lives.
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