Ukraine’s government has issued a curfew in the capital Kyiv and banned public events commemorating the nation’s 31 years of independence from the former Soviet Union. Officials in Kyiv cited the risk of Russian attacks on the mass gatherings that would normally mark Wednesday’s anniversary. This comes as the State Department is warning U.S. nationals to leave Ukraine, saying it expects Russia to step up its attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government buildings. Ukraine said Monday some 9,000 of its troops were killed during the six months that followed Russia’s invasion. Fighting continues to rage in the east, where on Monday residents of the frontline city of Toretsk struggled to find water, power and essential supplies.

Nina Burykina: “The situation is tense and very hard. Very hard. They shell us every day. … There is no water, no gas. There’s electricity in the city center only, unless it’s turned off.”