Russia puts more strength behind ‘creeping’ Ukraine advance

A woman runs from a house on fire after shelling in Donetsk (Alexei Alexandrov/AP)

Reinforced Russian troops backed by airstrikes have pummelled a portion of eastern Ukraine, blowing up bridges and shelling apartment buildings as they fight to capture two cities that would put a contested province under Moscow’s control, Ukrainian officials said.

Russian and Ukrainian forces have been battling street-by-street in Sievierodonetsk and neighbouring Lysychansk, regional governor Serhiy Haidai said.