Russia ramps up attacks on key cities in eastern Ukraine

A Ukrainian servicewomen cries as she lays flowers to commemorate those killed in the war, in Kherson (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

Russian forces have increased attacks in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to gain ground near two key frontline cities, Ukrainian military officials have said.

Moscow’s troops have begun a push to regain territory near Bakhmut, the eastern mining city that was the site of the war’s bloodiest battle before falling into Russian hands in May, the head of Ukraine’s ground forces wrote on the Telegram messaging app.