Battle rages as Russians advance into key city

VLADIMIR Putin's forces entered the outskirts of Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine today as he throws huge number of troops into attacks, reportedly leading to heavy losses including of mid-ranking and junior officers.

- Nicholas Cecil

Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said "very fierce" fighting was happening in the city as Russian troops sought to advance into its southeastern and northeastern suburbs.

Ukrainian soldiers were defending areas largely reduced to ruins by incessant shelling which had killed two civilians and wounded five others, he added.

But Ukrainian forces were reported this morning to have pushed back Russian attempts to seize a key road into the area, which if it fell would mean Mr Putin's troops would have encircled it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the situation in Severodonetsk as "indescribably difficult," with a relentless Russian artillery barrage damaging 90 per cent of its buildings.