Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has accused Russian troops of kidnapping civilians and killing a non-combatant in the city of Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region.
"The first shootings of civilians by the Russian military have become known," Klymenko wrote on his Telegram channel.
According to Klymenko, a resident who tried to flee and defied Russian orders was killed. Other residents of the embattled city were prevented from leaving, "kidnapped and driven into cellars," he wrote. The allegations cannot be independently verified and there was no immediate response from the Russians.
Almost a week ago, Russia launched a new major offensive in north-eastern Ukraine. The Russian military managed to occupy several border villages in the Kharkiv region.
Ukraine began evacuating civilians from the region. However, due to the heavy fighting around the small town of Vovchansk, around 5 kilometres from the border with Russia, not everyone could be brought to safety.