Ukraine intensifies offensive, Russia strikes back

Ukraine's military had taken control of 28 towns and villages in Russia's Kursk border region, prompting a sixth of its population to flee on Monday in its biggest attack on Russian territory since the war began.

On Tuesday it pummelled two Russian regions with drones.

In return, Russian forces struck back at Ukrainian troops with missiles, drones and airstrikes.

The Ukrainian forces carved out a slice of Russian territory, prompting Moscow to evacuate almost 200,000 people while it rushed in reserves. Russian war bloggers reported intense battles across the Kursk front as the Ukrainians tried to expand their control, though they said Russia was bringing in soldiers and heavy weaponry and had repelled many Ukrainian attacks.