Russian forces keep up pressure as Ukraine anniversary nears

A woman walks out from a residential building which was hit by a Russian rocket, in the city centre of Kharkiv (AP)

Russian forces are keeping Ukrainian troops tied down with fighting in the eastern Donbas region as Moscow assembles additional combat power there for an expected offensive in the coming weeks, Ukrainian officials said.

Weeks of intense fighting continued to rage around the city of Bakhmut and the nearby towns of Soledar and Vuhledar, Ukraine’s presidential office said.