Ukraine's counter-offensive is making rapid progress with troops liberating four villages from Russian forces.
They seized the communities in the Vremivka Ledge area of Donetsk in the south east.
They also beat back assaults in the frontline town of Avdiivka and gained half a mile in the Bakhmut region. In footage set to infuriate Vladimir Putin, Russian troops were filmed fleeing a burning Russian T-80 tank after it was hit by a drone piloted by the Achilles group near Kupiansk in the Kharkiv Oblast.
Moscow claimed the Ukrainian assaults had been repelled.
The advances come just two days after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the counter-offensive had begun. They were achieved despite the humanitarian and enviornmental catastrophe caused by Russia ’s suspected blowing-up of the Khakova dam last week.
It was thought to have been targeted to stop Ukraine advances.
Putin’s troops have been accused of committing atrocities against civilians fleeing flood waters in Kherson.
Three evacuees were reportedly shot dead by Moscow’s soldiers who were also threatening to kill those refusing Russian citizenship.
Surging waters have flooded 3,801 homes and a massive rescue operation to save thousands of flood victims is continuing,
Deadly mines have been dislodged and sent into the Black Sea.
Homeless locals with no water or food said Moscow’s troops are forcing them at gunpoint to become Russian – or be shot or starved to death.
Yesterday the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said at least four civilians were killed and 16 others were wounded in shelling over the past 24 hours.
With many homes and shops under polluted river water, the UN and other aid groups said access to fresh drinking water is a crucial need and the possible spread of water-borne disease a big risk.
Mr Zelensky said envoys from the International Criminal Court have visited the region to investigate the dam disaster, which has left at least 14 people dead.
He said: “It is very important that the representatives of international justice have seen the consequences of this Russian act of terrorism with their own eyes and heard for themselves that Russian terror continues.”
