Russia pushes advance on Bakhmut and bolsters defences in south

Fierce battles raged outside Bahkmut as Russian forces pushed their advance on the eastern Ukrainian city with heavy shelling and infantry attacks, Ukraine’s presidential office said on Monday (Libkos/AP)

Fierce battles raged outside Bahkmut as Russian forces pushed their advance on the eastern Ukrainian city with heavy shelling and infantry attacks, Ukraine’s presidential office said on Monday.

At least five civilians have been killed and as many wounded in action across the war-torn country in the last 24 hours.