Ukrainian counter-attacks ‘slowing Russian offensive in east’

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces have repelled eight Russian attacks in the two regions, destroying nine tanks, 18 armoured units and 13 vehicles, a tanker and three artillery systems, the Ukrainian General Staff said.

Residents look at their house destroyed by a Russian bomb in Chernihiv (AP)

Fierce Ukrainian counter-attacks have slowed Russian troops’ offensive in the eastern Donbas region as they attempt to seize Ukraine’s industrial heartland, officials have said.

Russia continues to fight for full control of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas as it seeks to secure “a land route between these territories and the occupied Crimea”, Ukraine’s military said.