Instead, Moscow appears to be digging in, even as the situation for the pro-Russia rebels in Ukraine deteriorates.

At a hastily called news conference, Igor Girkin, a Russian citizen who is the top defense official in the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic, said his forces had evacuated more than 100 wounded fighters to Russia because “I can’t rule out the total siege of Donetsk from all sides.”

The Donetsk separatists’ top political leader, Alexander Borodai, had left for Moscow for consultations, his deputy said.