Ukraine condemned Russian artillery attacks on cities in the northeast and the continuing siege of the southern port city of Mariupol. Fighters fought against the capture of the strategically vital port, from a massive steel plant in the last known pocket of resistance inside the shattered city of Mariupol ignoring a surrender-or-die ultimatum from Russia on Sunday.

The capture of Mariupol, the southern city would also Russia to fully secure a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014, and deprive Ukraine of a major port and its prized industrial assets.

Eighteen people were killed and more than 100 wounded in shelling in the past four days in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

Russia denies targeting civilians and has rejected what Ukraine says is evidence of atrocities as staged to undermine peace talks.

Serhiy Gaidai, the governor of the neighbouring region of Luhansk, which has seen heavy fighting, repeated a plea for people to evacuate.

About four million Ukrainians have fled the country, cities have been shattered and thousands have died since the start of the invasion on Feb. 24.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Ukraine's budget deficit was about $5 billion a month and urged Western governments for more financial aid.

On Twitter, Zelenskiy said he had discussed ensuring Ukraine's financial stability and preparations for post-war reconstruction with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, quoting her as having said support was essential to lay the foundations for rebuilding.

Ukraine pressed on with efforts to swiftly join the European Union, as officials completed a questionnaire that is a starting point for the EU to decide on its membership.

On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis criticised Russia, pleading for an end to the bloodshed and lamenting the "Easter of war".
-Reuters/AP