No let-up as Putin forces kill civilians

RUSSIA continued to bombard Ukraine yesterday, killing at least three civilians - as one of Vladimir Putin's henchmen claimed the war was started "to protect the people".

- BY STEPHEN BEECH and WILL STEWART

One strike on an apartment block in the eastern industrial city of Konstantynivka, Donetsk, triggered a huge blast.

Two people were reportedly killed and three wounded.

Another person perished and nine were injured by bombing raids further north in Sumy Oblast.