UKRAINIAN TROOPS WIN BACK SECOND CITY FROM RUSSIA

Embarrassing setback for 'cancer-stricken’ Putin's war

- JOHN SIDDLE

UKRAINE was celebrating last night as its soldiers beat back the Russians in Kharkiv.

The victory came as new rumours swirled that Vladimir Putin is fighting his own battle - with blood cancer.

After failing to capture the capital city of Kyiv, the tyrant's forces beat a hasty retreat from the outskirts of the country's second city in what is being seen as another embarrassing blow.

War analysts said Moscow is now on the defensive and being pushed back towards the Russian border.

Pictures on social media appeared to show the roads around Kharkiv littered with burnt-out Russian vehicles and ammunition.