Russia draws closer to capturing Ukraine’s Donbas region

Civilian militia men hold rifles during training at a shooting range in the outskirts of Kyiv (AP)

Russia has drawn closer to its goal of fully capturing Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland as the Kremlin claimed it has taken control of 97% of one of the two provinces that make up the Donbas region.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow’s forces hold nearly all of Luhansk province.