Russians Flee Ukraine Push In Annex Zone

Kyiv counter-offensive gains more ground

- Chris Hughes

THOUSANDS of Russian troops fled southern and eastern front lines in Ukraine yesterday, even as Moscow officials rubber-stamped the annexation of four key regions.

Some 25,000 of Vladimir Putin's soldiers were under threat of being cut off as the invaders were driven back dozens of miles by Kyiv's counteroffensive.

Nine Russian warships were on the move off the Crimean coast, including five armed with Kalibr cruise missiles, Ukraine's Operational Command South reported.

Russian missile strikes hit Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv in the north-east, damaging its infrastructure and causing power cuts, killing three and wounding a nine-year-old girl.