Russia-Ukraine War: Troops Advance On Eastern Front- Kyiv

Deputy Defence Minister, Hanna Maliar says Ukrainian forces have advanced around Bakhmut, describing the eastern city as the “epicentre of hostilities”.

She did not say whether a long-awaited counter-offensive had begun.

Separately, Russia’s military said it had repelled a new attack in the eastern Donetsk region on Monday.

Bakhmut has for months been at the heart of fierce fighting. It has little strategic value – but is important symbolically both for Kyiv and Moscow.

Monday’s claims by Ukraine and Russia have not been independently verified.