Russian forces launched an offensive yesterday in the Zaporizhzhia region in southeast Ukraine as Kyiv condemns the failure of its allies to supply modern main battle tanks.
Moscow said it had launched "offensive operations" in the region and claimed to control "more advantageous lines and positions".
The UK's Ministry of Defence also confirmed that both Ukraine and Russia had "massed significant forces" in the area and exchanged artillery fire and skirmishes.
Officials also suggested a "realistic possibility of local Russian advances around Bakhmut".
Fighting has continued in the northeast, near Kremina, but defence officials have said the conflict remains in "a state of deadlock".
Shelling attacks overnight in the Zaporizhzhia oblast targeted 21 cities and towns across the region.
Governor Oleksandr Starukh reported that one woman was killed in the attacks and two other civilians injured.
The civilian death toll in the conflict continues to rise. In the past 24 hours, five civilians have been killed and 13 wounded by Russian shelling in Ukraine's east and south, according to the deputy head of Ukraine's presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko.
The fighting continues as intense diplomatic pressure on Germany has come from Western allies to supply Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukrainian forces.
Foreign ministers from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia met at its annual defence and security summit, issuing a joint statement calling on the German leadership to provide the tanks "now".
This story is from the January 22, 2023 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the January 22, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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