Russia said on Monday that its troops had advanced into Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub that they have been trying to capture for over a year. Zelensky said Pokrovsk remained under severe pressure, though Russian troops had made no gains in the past day. He said up to 300 Russian servicemen had infiltrated the city.

The country will introduce fixed-term military contracts to try to attract recruits and ease the strain on soldiers after years of fighting.

In Dobropillia, a coal-mining town just a few kilometres from the front line with Russia in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, its few remaining inhabitants shuffle to find food or water under the constant gaze — and hum — of the drones that now rule the battlefield.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia has deployed about 170,000 troops in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, aiming to capture the city of Pokrovsk.

Two drones targeted an industrial facility in Sterlitamak, a city in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, regional Gov. Radiy Habirov said in an online statement. He didn’t specify what facility was targeted but he said that both drones were shot down.

An estimated 2,000 Colombian mercenaries serve on Ukraine's front lines, defending against Russia's aggression. They face death and serious injuries on the conflict's brutal battlefields, for pay that could change their lives on the return home.

Drone teams compete to ascend a scoreboard that rewards units for successful attacks. Ukrainian officials say the contest helps keep soldiers motivated.

Moscow claims its troops are making progress in attempt to gain control of key city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region

Russian and Ukrainian troops fought battles on Tuesday in the ruins of Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub in eastern Ukraine that Moscow has been trying to capture for over a year. Ukraine's military said fierce fighting was under way in a part of the city that was key for Kyiv's frontline logistics.