Ukraine latest updates: Moscow rejects blame for food crisis

A local farm worker unloads Ukrainian-made fertiliser from a truck to use on a wheat field near the village of Yakovlivka after it was hit by an aerial bombardment outside Kharkiv, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues [File: Thomas Peter/Reuters]

• Russian President Vladimir Putin says attempts to blame Russia for difficulties shipping grain worldwide are unfounded and points to Western sanctions being responsible instead.
• The UN human rights office says it has recorded more than 4,000 civilians killed in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, noting the actual number is likely much higher.
• Pro-Russian separatists claim full control of Lyman, a strategic town in northeastern Donbas.
• Ukraine’s defence ministry appeared to counter the claim, saying Ukrainian troops were still fighting to control the northwestern and southeastern parts of the town.
• Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia’s offensive in Donbas could leave the eastern region “uninhabited” and that Moscow’s forces want to turn cities such as Popasna, Lysychansk and Severodonetsk to ashes.

This live blog is now closed, thank you for joining us.