Russian forces claim the Ukrainian power plant Zaporizhzhia belongs to Russia's state atomic agency, Rosatom, the head of Ukraine's nuclear energy company, Energoatom, said Friday on Ukrainian TV.

Russian forces took control of the Zaporizhzhia region last week.

Energoatom’s chief Petro Kotin said that officials from the Russian agency, backed by the 500 Russian troops surrounding it, tried to enter the plant and take control of it this week.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell

A senior administration official told ABC News Friday that the U.S. is getting reports the Russians are starting to bring in biochemical weapon suits into Ukraine.

The reports comes as the Russians accuse Ukraine and the U.S. of developing biochemical weapons, which the U.S. has denied.

"We believe it is an ominous sign they are possibly doing it for cover," the official said.

According to the official, as much as one-fifth of the Russian force is currently "inoperable," meaning they are either dead, wounded or do not have the support or equipment needed to continue.

But even though the Russians are bogged down they realize that everything depends on taking Kyiv and continue to put all effort into that, according to the official.

There are also concerns about boxing Putin in as well as his consistent and casual mention of nuclear weapons. According to the official, that is one of the reasons he has not been publicly labeled as a war criminal because "we just don't know what he will do."

-ABC News' Martha Raddatz

White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates fell short of calling Putin’s actions in Ukraine war crimes despite acknowledging that that evidence is mounting that Russia’s attack in the country will result in war crimes on Friday.

“We've all seen the devastating images coming out of Ukraine and are appalled by Russia's brutal tactics. Pregnant women on stretchers, apartment buildings - buildings shelled, families killed while seeking safety from this terrible violence,” Bates said while briefing reporters aboard Air Force One.

"These are disgusting attacks, civilian casualties are increasing. If Russia is intentionally targeting civilians, that would be a war crime," he said.

Bates said the administration would share any evidence that is collected with its allies and hinted that it expects evidence will show that war crimes are being committed.

“If Russia is intentionally targeting civilians, that would be a war crime and as we are all seeing on live television evidence is mounting, and we are documenting it as it takes place," Bates said.

-ABC News' Armando Tonatiuh Torres-García

The U.S. Department of Justice said its new task force dedicated to targeting sanctioned Russian oligarchs and their assets is "up and running," a senior DOJ official told reporters on Friday.

The DOJ is building out an experienced team of criminal and national security attorneys weighing a number of possible criminal charges to bring against those helping to support Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine, according to the official.

The "KleptoCapture" task force is now being led by assistant U.S. attorney Andrew Adams, a co-chief of the Southern District of New York's Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises unit.

David Lim, a trial attorney in DOJ's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Michael Khoo, an attorney in DOJ's Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, have been appointed as deputy directors for the task force.

"Our goal is to bring any appropriate charge against any sanctioned Russian oligarch or entity and those who would help them to evade economic sanctions," the DOJ official said.

The official added, "Offenses under investigation are going to include sanctions evasion, money laundering, bank and wire fraud -- but the task force will bring any charge that might undermine and disrupt the comfort that these oligarchs achieved through crime and corruption."

Last week, charges were brought in the Southern District of New York against Jack Hanick, the first ever individual charged with violating U.S. sanctions arising from Russia's 2014 actions in Ukraine.

-ABC News' Alexander Mallin

Russian chess grandmaster Sergey Karjakin was found guilty of breaching an article in the FIDE Code of Ethics relating to public statements he has made in support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Three days after the invasion, Karjakin published an open letter on his verified Instagram account expressing his support for the Russian regime.

"I express to you, our Commander-in-Chief, my full support in protecting the interests of Russia, our multinational Russian people, eliminating threats and establishing peace! I wish you a speedy fulfillment of all tasks assigned to our valiant army," he said in the post.

Karjakin has 21 days to appeal the decision.

-ABC News' Christine Theodorou