Russia-Ukraine war: Key things to know about the conflict

Russian forces were pounding Ukrainian cities in a bombardment that deepened the war's humanitarian crisis as the countries kept open a narrow diplomatic channel with more planned talks

Loud blasts thundered through Kyiv just before dawn Tuesday as Russian forces escalated their bombardment on the Ukrainian capital, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the war's third week. Officials from both countries agreed to more talks, despite the failures of diplomacy so far.

The figures tell the story of a devastating human toll. The number of Ukrainians forced to flee their country since the invasion has now surpassed 3 million, the United Nations said, the vast majority women and children. Thousands of soldiers and civilians are dead. Food and water are running out in besieged Mariupol.

On Tuesday a projectile slammed into a 15-story apartment building, killing at least one person.

“Ukraine is on fire,” United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warned. “The impact on civilians is reaching terrifying proportions.”