Russia steps up attacks in Ukraine in bid to advance

Strikes in arc from north to east come after West's pledge of tanks for Kyiv

KYIV Russia has stepped up attempts to break through Ukraine's defences after the West pledged modern battle tanks for Kyiv, with heavy shelling in the north, northeast and east of Ukraine amid some of the heaviest combat since Russia's invasion on Feb 24 last year.

Russian forces trained tank, mortar and artillery fire on more than 60 towns and villages on Thursday in an arc of territory extending from the Chernihiv and Sumy regions in the north through Kharkiv region in the north-east, as well as the focal points of Russian attempts to advance in Donetsk region in the east - Bakhmut and Avdiivka.

Ukraine's army command said its forces had repelled Russian attacks in various places over the previous 24 hours and struck command and control points, a troop concentration, two artillery concentration areas and an ammunition depot.

Mr Oleskandr Musiienko, head of the Military and Strategic Research Centre of Ukraine, said Russia was sending in more reinforcements to block Ukrainian advances.

"They are mostly sending infantry and artillery forces into battle, made up mainly of conscripts. But they do not have the level of artillery and tank support they had on Feb 24," Mr Musiienko said in an interview with Ukrainian television. "They have fewer resources. They are relying on the numerical superiority of their troops."