Russian forces are closing in on two strongholds. The fall of the cities could pave the way for a takeover of the southern part of the Donetsk region, analysts said.

A British man has been taken prisoner while fighting for Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk region, Russian state media has reported.

Ukraine has lost more than 40 per cent of the territory in Russia’s Kursk region that it seized in August, a senior Ukrainian military source said.Russia had deployed 59,000 troops to the region since the surprise invasion by Kyiv’s forces,