Ukraine army retreats as Russia closes in on strategically important town

Russian forces have targeted the strategically elevated town for months (Russian defence ministry Press Service via AP)

The Ukrainian army has retreated from an area on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region which was reduced to rubble under a months-long Russian assault.

Chasiv Yar lies a short distance west of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russia last year after a bitter 10-month battle.