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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says his forces have made some gains against Russian forces in the south-eastern Zaporizhzhia region but that Ukrainian troops have again come under sustained attack in Severodonetsk, a strategically important city in the eastern Donbas region that has been under relentless bombardment by Russian forces. Capture of Severodonetsk and neighbouring Lysychansk would put all of Luhansk region under Russia's control. Luhansk makes up half of Donbas - the current focus of Russia's war effort.

Information about the picture on the ground has not been very clear but Newshour's Tim Franks has been speaking to a senior Ukrainian presidential aide, Mykhaylo Podolyak, who says between 100 and 200 Ukrainian troops are being killed on the front line every day.

"There is a complete lack of parity when it comes to artillery between the two armies. The Russian forces have thrown pretty much everything non-nuclear at the front. That includes heavy artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems and aviation."

Photo shows: Smoke over Severodonetsk this week. Credit AFP

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