Russia-Ukraine updates: 2 US veterans who joined Ukrainian forces missing

The U.S. has "credible information" that Russia could be "intensifying" the forced displacement of civilians as it plans to overthrow local governments in southern and eastern Ukraine, a senior U.S. diplomat said Thursday.

Michael Carpenter, the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, told reporters there is "credible reporting" that after failing to topple the central government in Kyiv, Russian forces are forcibly removing Ukrainian civilians from areas in the south and east -- and could be "intensifying" those efforts as they seek to set up proxy local governments.

Carpenter said he has also now deemed "credible" the reports that Russian forces are forcibly displacing Ukrainian civilians, often through "filtration camps" where many are "brutally" interrogated, to tamp down on Ukrainian support in these parts of the war-torn country.

Carpenter repeatedly declined to provide more details to back up these claims, saying only, "We have very credible information from a variety of different sources that point to Russia's plans."

-ABC News' Conor Finnegan

The House voted 417-10 approving a measure that will make it easier for the U.S. to send military aid and equipment to Ukraine.

The Senate approved the measure by voice vote last month. It now heads to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.

The lend-lease program was created during WWII and was seen as a game-changer in the conflict, allowing the U.S. to quickly resupply Allies.

This enhanced lend-lease authority would be specific to helping remove obstacles to lending arms to Ukraine. It would not create a new program but would streamline the president’s current authority to lend the defense articles necessary to defend civilian populations.

The legislation would also require Biden to establish expedited delivery procedures for any military equipment loaned or leased to Ukraine to ensure timely delivery.

It would remain in effect for two years with the possibility of Congress extending the authority if needed.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Ukraine's capital was hit by two missile strikes in the Shevchenkivsky district on Thursday.

At least one Russian missile struck a residential building. Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the interior minister who was at the scene following the attack, told journalists at least six people were injured.

This came as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited the city.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tweeted that the attack came right after Guterres visited Russia.

"The day before he was sitting at a long table in the Kremlin, and today explosions are above his head. Postcard from Moscow? Recall why [Russia] still takes a seat on the UN Security Council?" he tweeted.

This was the first strike on central Kyiv in over a week.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that "intensive discussions" are ongoing on proposals to evacuate Ukrainian civilians from the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol.

"Mariupol is a crisis within a crisis," Guterres said in a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday. "Thousands of civilians need life-saving assistance. Many are elderly, in need of medical care or have limited mobility. They need an escape route out of the apocalypse."

Guterres said that during his visit to Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed "in principle" to the involvement of the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross in the evacuation of civilians from the plant.

Guterres said he and Zelenskyy had the opportunity to address the issue Thursday.

"As we speak, there are in intense discussions to move forward on this proposal to make it a reality," he said.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou