Ukraine accuses Russia of pillaging, occupying Kherson homes ahead of battle

Ukraine accused Russia on Monday of looting empty homes in the southern city of Kherson and occupying them with troops in civilian clothes to prepare for street fighting in what both sides predict will be one of the war's most important battles.

In recent days, Russia has ordered civilians out of Kherson in anticipation of a Ukrainian assault to recapture the city, the only regional capital Moscow has seized since its invasion in February.

Kherson, with a prewar population of nearly 300,000, has been left cold and dark after power and water were cut to the surrounding area over the past 48 hours, both sides said.

Russian-installed officials blamed Ukrainian "sabotage" and said they were working to restore electricity. Ukrainian officials said the Russians had dismantled 1.5 kilometres of power lines, and electricity probably would not return until Ukrainian forces recapture the area.

Kyiv has described the evacuation of the area as a forced deportation, a war crime. Moscow says it is sending residents away for safety.

About 100 disabled children were moved from a medical facility in Dnipriany in Kherson region to the Moscow region, Ukraine's military said. Patients from an elderly persons' home in Kakhovka were also being moved and Russian forces are taking over those facilities, it said.

Kherson lies in the only pocket of Russian-held territory on the west bank of the Dnipro River that bisects Ukraine. Recapturing it has been the main focus of Ukraine's counter-offensive in the south, which has accelerated since the start of October.

The situation inside Kherson could not be independently confirmed. Ukrainian forces on the nearby front line have told Reuters they expect a bitter fight against Russian troops determined to exact a blood price before being forced out.

Ukraine's military said Russian forces, "disguised in civilian clothes, occupy the premises of civilians and strengthen positions inside for conducting street battles."

Russian forces were "involved in looting and theft from residents and from infrastructure sites and are taking away equipment, food and vehicles to the Russian Federation," it said in an update late Monday.

Moscow denies abusing civilians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Donetsk region in the east remained the "epicentre" of fighting, with hundreds of Russians being killed every day.

The towns of Bakhmut and Avdiivka are the focal points of the heaviest fighting in Donetsk region.

On the diplomatic front, both the White House and Kremlin declined to comment on a Wall Street Journal report that U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan has held talks with aides to President Vladimir Putin, aiming to reduce the risk of the war escalating.