LVIV, Ukraine — Shifting battlefield priorities and realities rippled across Ukraine on Friday as local forces claimed to have recaptured more territory, Moscow appeared to be re-deploying some of its troops and a Russian official accused Ukrainian helicopters of attacking a fuel depot inside Russia’s borders.
While the fighting raged, a new attempt was underway to spirit residents out of the shattered southern city of Mariupol. The Ukrainian chapter of the International Committee of the Red Cross said it had permission from both sides of the conflict to enter Mariupol to evacuate people eager to leave, but it was unclear whether the convoy would also be allowed to bring in much-needed humanitarian aid.
In a video message, the head of the Chernihiv region, north of the capital of Kyiv, said some Russian forces had begun to vacate the area, in some cases leaving behind mines that Ukrainian authorities were trying to detect and remove. Chernihiv Gov. Viacheslav Chaus warned that air and missile strikes were still possible.
