On the same day Moscow is set to announce the annexation of four Ukrainian provinces, at least 23 people died in a Russian strike on a convoy of vehicles.
At least 28 people were injured as the Russian shelling hit a "humanitarian convoy," according to Ukrainian Vice-Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
On Telegram, Zaporizhzhia governor Oleksandr Starukh said that the people in the convoy were going to help their relatives escape into Ukrainian-controlled territory.
The provincial capital, Zaporizhzhia city, is under Ukrainian control, despite Russia's attempt to annex it.
According to the Washington Post, several families are trying to escape Russian-controlled parts of the province, because they fear that Russia may mobilize Ukrainian men to fight on its side.
Russia is expected to annex four Ukrainian territories on Friday. While Luhansk and Kherson are completely under Russian control, Moscow's forces only control a small part of the other two. The Ukrainian counter-offensive has made significant gains recently. The city of Lyman is a key logistical hub for Russian forces in the region. Losing control of Lyman could have a huge impact on Russia's offensive in the region as it is a major railway junction used by Moscow to replenish its forces. Russian forces will fight until they capture all of the province, according to the Kremlin.
The annexation decree is expected to be signed by Putin in Moscow's Red Square. Both Ukraine and the West have refused to acknowledge Russia's illegal annexation, while countries like India and China are friendlier towards Russia. There is concern that Putin may use the annexation as a pretext to suggest that Russia is fighting a defensive war on its territory against Ukraine, which would allow it to escalate the conflict even further. Putin said last week that Russia was prepared to use nuclear weapons.
Russia held a referendum but not hearts or minds.
The Kremlin says that Russia will annex the Ukrainian territories on Friday.
If Putin ordered a nuclear strike, what would happen?
The Russian correspondent said that thousands of Russian troops are about to get trapped.