Fierce fighting persists in east as Kyiv reports non-stop assaults on key city

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that Ukrainian forces were keeping Russian troops at bay (Mstyslav Chernov/AP)

Ukrainian officials have reported intense combat, characterised by relentless assaults by Russian forces, as the ongoing attack on the eastern city of Avdiivka entered its fifth consecutive day.

City head Vitalii Barabash said “the enemy has not stopped either assaulting or shelling positions” around Avdiivka.