Russia is using its citizens as human shields rather than allowing them to evacuate besieged border cities, Ukrainian defence intelligence (DIU) has said.

“The [Russian] authorities are once again trying to use civilians, their own fellow citizens, as a human shield in order to protect the Russian terrorist regime,” said Andrii Yusov, a spokesman for the department.

Mr Yusov added that Russian security forces have cordoned off transport hubs and set up checkpoints to halt fleeing civilians, threatening them with fines or sacking if they leave.

His comments come after rogue Russian volunteers fighting for Ukraine yesterday called for Russian citizens to evacuate Belgorod and Kursk as they intensified their assault on military targets in the border cities.

The cross-border raid was launched to disrupt this week’s presidential elections in Russia, one of the volunteer fighters said, as its citizens go to the polls today in what is expected to be a landslide victory for Vladimir Putin.

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