Ukraine says Moscow is forcibly taking civilians to Russia

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is accusing Russia of forcibly relocating thousands of residents to Russia from the devastated port city of Mariupol so they can be used as “hostages” to pressure Kyiv to give up.

The claims could not be independently verified. Russia says it is evacuating thousands of civilians of their own free will.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s navy says it sank a large landing ship near the port city of Berdyansk that had been used to supply Russian forces with armored vehicles.

And Russia claims to have taken the eastern town of Izyum after fierce fighting.