Ukrainian forces dig in ahead of expected Russian onslaught

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes further evidence of war crimes will be uncovered (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Ukrainian forces dug in and Russia’s military lined up more firepower on Sunday ahead of an expected showdown in eastern Ukraine that could become a decisive period in a war that has flattened cities, killed untold thousands and isolated Moscow economically and politically.

Experts say a full-scale offensive in the east could start within days, though questions remained about the ability of Russia’s depleted and demoralised forces to conquer much ground after Ukraine’s inspired defenders repelled their push to capture the capital, Kyiv.