A view of some of the damage after shelling in pro-Russian, separatist-controlled Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, on Monday. Several houses and garages were damaged, and some homes were completely burned down.

A view of some of the damage after shelling in pro-Russian, separatist-controlled Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, on Monday. Several houses and garages were damaged, and some homes were completely burned down. / Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

As Monday draws to an end in Kyiv and in Moscow, here are the key developments of the day:

Ukrainian officials warn that Russia could try to split the country in two, calling it "a Korean scenario." The U.S. Defense Department reports more Russian "ground activity" against Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region, assessing that Moscow is "prioritizing" the eastern region. Russian forces are trying to gain full control of Ukraine's southern coast and link up with territory they've held in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region for years. Ukrainian military officials say they are now launching counteroffensives.

Ukrainian officials said they wouldn't open humanitarian corridors for civilians Monday, saying intelligence reports warned of Russian provocations along routes.

A new round of in-person cease-fire talks is slated to begin Tuesday. Envoys from Ukraine and Russia are planning to meet in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told independent Russian journalists that Ukraine was prepared to discuss a neutral status as part of a peace deal, subject to a referendum vote and including third-party security guarantees.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and Ukrainian peace negotiators were reportedly sickened this month. The Wall Street Journal and investigative outlet Bellingcat reported they experienced symptoms consistent with suspected poisoning, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. Reuters later cited an unnamed U.S. official saying the causes were likely "environmental."

One of Russia's last major independent news outlets, Novaya Gazeta, suspended publication after a new warning from the country's media regulator. The newspaper's editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, was awarded last year's Nobel Peace Prize, and he plans to auction off the medal to raise money for donations to Ukrainian refugees.

In-depth

In response to the war, Americans are fleeing Russia in droves.

NATO, explained: why the alliance was formed — and what it's doing for Ukraine.

Taiwan fears what's happening with Russia and Ukraine will happen to it with China. Listen to the story.

A Moscow court says Russians can use banned Instagram and Facebook, as long as they don't post prohibited content.

A bunch of kangaroos (and maybe wallabies) were rescued from a hard-hit Kharkiv zoo.

German states have outlawed displays of the letter Z, a symbol of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Earlier developments

You can read more news from Monday here, as well as more in-depth reporting and daily recaps here. Also, listen and subscribe to NPR's State of Ukraine podcast for updates throughout the day.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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Tags: Russian invasion  donbas  Ukraine invasion  Russia Ukraine  Ukraine  Russia  Series: Russia Ukraine recap