Make sure to head here next to read a report by the BBC's Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse, who was among the first journalists to gain access to some of the villages retaken in Ukraine's counter-offensive.
Today's updates were brought to you by Jack Burgess, Krystyna Gajda, Nicholas Yong, Ali Ahmadi, Owen Amos and me.
We're pausing our live coverage shortly...
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
A woman near the site of an alleged Russian missile strike in Kryvyi RihImage caption: A woman near the site of an alleged Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih
...but here's a recap of what's been happening with the Ukraine war today:
At least 11 people have died, and 28 others have been injured, by Russian missile strikes overnight on the city of Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian officials say
The BBC's James Waterhouse was among the first journalists to gain access to settlements recently recaptured by Ukraine as part of its troops' counter-offensive. He said he'd seen evidence of "a lot of close-quarter fighting" in the village of Neskuchne
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Ukraine's offensive had stalled, and that its human losses had been ten times higher than Russia's
Russia's defence ministry shared footage - which appears to the BBC to be genuine - showing Western-made military vehicles captured by Russian forces
A high-ranking Russian general has been killed by a missile strike in Ukraine, according to pro-Kremlin military blogger Yuri Kotenok. But the news has not been officially confirmed
No change in Russia's objectives in Ukraine - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been speaking this afternoon - saying there has been no change to Russia’s objectives during its invasion of Ukraine.
He told a gathering of war reporters that Moscow’s military goals “are of a
fundamental nature”.
On the eve of the invasion last February, the
Russian president said that the Kremlin sought the "demilitarization
and denazification" of Ukraine.
In pictures: Recaptured village of Neskuchne
The Reuters news agency has also now been to Neskuchne - a settlement recently recaptured by Ukraine. Here are a couple of the pictures we've received.
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
BBC given first access to liberated villages
James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Neskuchne
BBCCopyright: BBC
The BBC is among the first media organisations to be given access to some of the first villages liberated in Ukraine’s counter-offensive.
Out of this cluster of four settlements in the Donetsk region, Neskuchne has seen the heaviest fighting - according to the battalion which liberated it.
Its name means “not boring” in Russian.
An obvious irony for a village which has been occupied since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion last year. Neskuchne was at the most northern point of a protruding Russian front line.
As our army escort, Anatoliy, speeds along scarred roads in his camouflaged truck towards Neskuchne, it’s clear this is a different kind of liberation to what we saw last year.
Firstly, there are no civilians here. The only remnants of civilisation come in the form of a blown-out pharmacy and food store. There isn’t a complex network of trenches either. A makeshift wooden bridge over a river is all it takes to take us into territory Russia has held for so long.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Buildings are also riddled with bullet holes from smaller calibre weapons. There’s been a lot of close-quarter fighting here.
Anatoliy doesn’t like to hang around for long. Mortars are periodically fired from Ukrainian troops hidden in thick tree lines or abandoned gardens. He explains the Russians are just on the brow of hill in three directions.
The sudden rising of three plumes of smoke is a cue to keep moving. The Russians are responding with Grad missiles.
The situation here is far more fluid than the triumphant claims of liberation which had come from from Kyiv this week. Russian forces have been pushing back as recently as last night, which Ukrainian officials have now acknowledged.
Ukraine’s counter-offensive is in its early stages with modest gains. If Neskuchne is anything to go by, any liberation will be far from immediate, and won’t necessarily bring freedom straight away.
Recap: What's the latest?
EPACopyright: EPA
A woman holds her cat outside an apartment hit by a missile attack on Kryvyi RihImage caption: A woman holds her cat outside an apartment hit by a missile attack on Kryvyi Rih
If you're just joining our live coverage, here's the latest from the war in Ukraine.
At least 11 people have died, and 28 others have been injured, by Russian missile strikes overnight on the city of Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian officials say
Russia's defence ministry has shared footage - which appears to the BBC to be genuine - showing Western-made military vehicles captured by Russian forces
A high-ranking Russian general has been killed by a missile strike in Ukraine, according to pro-Kremlin military blogger Yuri Kotenok. The news has not been officially confirmed
The prices of staple products such as soy beans, corn and wheat will likely increase as a result of flooding from the Kakhovka dam breach, Ukrainian officials are warning
Where is Ukraine gaining ground?
Ukraine says it has recently liberated seven villages in the south-east of the country from Russian control.
These are seen as the first victories in the country's counter-offensive, which President Zelensky acknowledged on Saturday to be under way.
Here's the latest map of locations where "the national flag is once again waving", as officials in Storozheve put it.
Warning of vegetable price increases after Kakhovka flooding
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
A flooded residential area of Kherson, pictured on SundayImage caption: A flooded residential area of Kherson, pictured on Sunday
With some 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of agricultural land under water after the Kakhovka dam breach, Ukrainian officials are warning that the prices of staple products such as soy beans, corn and wheat will likely increase, as food production in the country takes a hit.
Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotskyi told the BBC World Service earlier that regions such as North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are the most vulnerable to disruptions in Ukrainian exports.
Vysotskyi estimated that the loss of agricultural products amounted to between three and four million tonnes, worth about $1b (£796m). Up to 15% of the flooded areas will no longer be able to function as farmland.
But internal consumption will not be critically affected, he said, as Ukraine exports around 70% of its agricultural production.
The UN also warned earlier that the incident would have "a huge impact on global food security".
Russia yet to give safety guarantees over Kakhovka aid - UN official
We've been hearing a bit more about ongoing humanitarian efforts to help people affected by severe flooding in southern Ukraine, following last week's major breach of the Kakhovka dam.
The United Nations' humanitarian co-ordinator for Ukraine - Denise Brown - says the UN is engaging with both Ukrainian and Russian governments to reach anyone who may "urgently require live-saving assistance".
She says "we have boats, personnel and supplies ready to go", but adds that Russia "is yet to provide the safety guarantees we need to cross the front line to the left bank of the Dnipro river".
Brown continues by saying the guarantees "are necessary for the safety of our team".
.Copyright: .
BBC Verify
Paul Brown
Analysing Russian claims of captured Leopard tanks
Video content
Video caption: Watch: 'Captured tanks' footage posted by RussiaWatch: 'Captured tanks' footage posted by Russia
Russia's defence ministry says its troops have captured multiple German-made Leopard tanks and US-made Bradley
infantry fighting vehicles in southern Ukraine.
Video footage
posted to the ministry's Telegram channel on Tuesday shows soldiers inspecting the vehicles, one of whom shouts “Glory to Russia!”.
BBC Verify has examined
the footage and found the position of the vehicles. The extent of damage
matches the equipment seen in videos posted on social media last week. We
confirmed the location of these damaged vehicles in a rural area, south-east of the
town of Orikhiv
in Zaporizhzhia region.
In the footage we have seen so far, only one Leopard tank and several Bradleys are visible - displaying
varying degrees of damage.
We are verifying more footage allegedly
showing Western-supplied equipment damaged or captured in Ukraine.
Death toll in Kryvyi Rih up to 11
The number of people killed in the missile strikes on Kryvyi Rih has risen to 11, a Ukrainian official says.
"During this terrible night, the enemy killed 11 civilians in the city," says Serhiy Lysak, the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor.
The earlier death toll was 10, but Lysak says another victim has been found.
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
The scene outside an apartment block in Kryvyi Rih on Tuesday morningImage caption: The scene outside an apartment block in Kryvyi Rih on Tuesday morning
Russian shelling kills 72-year-old priest - Ukraine official
A 72-year-old priest has been killed by Russian shelling in the Ukrainian settlement of Bilozerka, in the Kherson region, Ukraine presidential chief of staff says.
In a post on Telegram, Andriy Yermak says artillery fire hit the church courtyard and also injured a 76-year-old woman.
Thousand missiles since start of year - former Ukraine PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin must "pay the price" for the invasion of Ukraine, former Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk tells the BBC.
Noting that Russia has launched around 1,000 missiles on Ukraine since the start of the year, he adds: "The time will come when he will be behind the bars."
Yatsenyuk also urges his country's western allies to come up with a long-term strategy to support his country, as Ukraine continues the "hard toil" of winning the war.
"I believe Ukraine is a flourishing democracy. But to defend this democracy, we have to win this war."
BBC NewsCopyright: BBC News
former Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of committing war crimesImage caption: former Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of committing war crimes
Russia claims to have repelled Ukrainian attacks
Russian forces have repelled Ukrainian attacks near several villages in the southern part of Donetsk region, says Russia's defence ministry.
They include Rivnopil, Prechystivka and Makarivka.
Ukrainian forces earlier claimed that they had liberated several villages - including Makarivka - as part of its counter-offensive.
In its daily briefing, Russia's defence ministry added that Ukraine was continuing to mount attacks in the south Donetsk and
Bakhmut areas.
Wagner chief: Ukraine's offensive potential 'far, far from exhausted'
The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group - whose fighters have fought alongside regular Russian troops - has said Ukraine's offensive potential is "far, far from exhausted".
In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Yevgeny Prigozhin writes of the offensive: "It will take a month and a half or two, and we will have to decide whether they have achieved their result or not."
He also added he was "not sure" if Wagner would continue operating in Ukraine after the months-long battle around Bakhmut.
Prigozhin is know for his publicity-seeking outbursts.
He has often found himself at odds with Russia's political and military leadership - most recently over an apparent move by the state to take direct control of his group.
As we reported earlier, the BBC's been looking at video footage from Russia's defence ministry posted on messaging app Telegram.
The BBC Verify team says it appears to be genuine footage - which shows German-made Leopard tanks and US-made Bradley fighting vehicles captured by Russian forces on the battlefield.
Watch the clip here.
Video content
Video caption: Watch: 'Captured tanks' footage posted by RussiaWatch: 'Captured tanks' footage posted by Russia
Watch: Are Russians optimistic about the war?
Video content
Video caption: Ukraine conflict: Are Russians optimistic about the war?Ukraine conflict: Are Russians optimistic about the war?
In this report, the BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg takes the opportunity to see what residents of the capital Moscow think and feel about the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
Ukraine has been making minor gains in its counter-offensive in recent days - but analysts say it will need to retake land on a much larger scale in the south of the country to consider its efforts a success.
In pictures: The capture of Makarivka
Here are some images supplied by the Ukrainian armed forces, purporting to show the village of Makarivka in the Donetsk region. It's among the seven settlements which the Ukrainians claim to have recently recaptured during their counter-offensive against the Russians.
"The battles are fierce, but we have movement and that is crucial," said President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video address on Monday night. "The enemy's losses are exactly what we need."
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Ukrainian forces had taken control of an area of 35 square miles (90 square kilometres). This is a fraction of the 40,000 square miles that remains under Russian control.
Despite the gains being modest, they represent Ukraine's most rapid advance in months.
United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy RegionCopyright: United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy Region
United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy RegionCopyright: United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy Region
United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy RegionCopyright: United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy Region
Russian general killed in Ukraine - military blogger
A high-ranking Russian general has been killed in Ukraine, according to pro-Kremlin military blogger Yuri Kotenok - who has 420,000 subscribers on the messaging app Telegram.
Kotenok says Maj Gen Sergei Goryachev died in a missile strike.
The news has not yet been confirmed by any official sources and the BBC has so far been unable to verify the claims.
But many of Russia's military bloggers have front-line experience and have been useful and insightful sources of information about the Ukraine war, in the absence of official comment (as this article explains).
If confirmed, Goryachev would be the first Russian general to be killed in Ukraine this year, according to the independent Russian investigative news service Agentstvo.
Kryvyi Rih toll up to 10
Ten people are now known to have died following an overnight missile strike on Kryvyi Rih.
In his Telegram post, local official Oleksandr Vilkul says one person is still trapped under rubble, and 28 people have been injured - with varying degrees of severity.
He again describes the rescue operation as "ongoing".
Regional governor Serhiy Lysak clarifies that six bodies were recovered from a business premises - and four from a different, five-storey building.
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Rescue efforts are ongoing in the central cityImage caption: Rescue efforts are ongoing in the central city
Live Reporting
Edited by James FitzGerald
All times stated are UK
ReutersCopyright: Reuters A woman near the site of an alleged Russian missile strike in Kryvyi RihImage caption: A woman near the site of an alleged Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih -
At least 11 people have died, and 28 others have been injured, by Russian missile strikes overnight on the city of Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian officials say
-
The BBC's James Waterhouse was among the first journalists to gain access to settlements recently recaptured by Ukraine as part of its troops' counter-offensive. He said he'd seen evidence of "a lot of close-quarter fighting" in the village of Neskuchne
- Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Ukraine's offensive had stalled, and that its human losses had been ten times higher than Russia's
-
Russia's defence ministry shared footage - which appears to the BBC to be genuine - showing Western-made military vehicles captured by Russian forces
-
A high-ranking Russian general has been killed by a missile strike in Ukraine, according to pro-Kremlin military blogger Yuri Kotenok. But the news has not been officially confirmed
ReutersCopyright: Reuters 
ReutersCopyright: Reuters 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
BBCCopyright: BBC 
EPACopyright: EPA A woman holds her cat outside an apartment hit by a missile attack on Kryvyi RihImage caption: A woman holds her cat outside an apartment hit by a missile attack on Kryvyi Rih -
At least 11 people have died, and 28 others have been injured, by Russian missile strikes overnight on the city of Kryvyi Rih, Ukrainian officials say
-
Russia's defence ministry has shared footage - which appears to the BBC to be genuine - showing Western-made military vehicles captured by Russian forces
-
A high-ranking Russian general has been killed by a missile strike in Ukraine, according to pro-Kremlin military blogger Yuri Kotenok. The news has not been officially confirmed
-
The prices of staple products such as soy beans, corn and wheat will likely increase as a result of flooding from the Kakhovka dam breach, Ukrainian officials are warning
.Copyright: . 
ReutersCopyright: Reuters A flooded residential area of Kherson, pictured on SundayImage caption: A flooded residential area of Kherson, pictured on Sunday 
.Copyright: . Video caption: Watch: 'Captured tanks' footage posted by RussiaWatch: 'Captured tanks' footage posted by Russia 
ReutersCopyright: Reuters The scene outside an apartment block in Kryvyi Rih on Tuesday morningImage caption: The scene outside an apartment block in Kryvyi Rih on Tuesday morning 
Andriy Yermak/TelegramCopyright: Andriy Yermak/Telegram 
BBC NewsCopyright: BBC News former Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of committing war crimesImage caption: former Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of committing war crimes - Yevgeny Prigozhin: From Putin's chef to Wagner founder
Video caption: Watch: 'Captured tanks' footage posted by RussiaWatch: 'Captured tanks' footage posted by Russia Video caption: Ukraine conflict: Are Russians optimistic about the war?Ukraine conflict: Are Russians optimistic about the war? 
United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy RegionCopyright: United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy Region 
United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy RegionCopyright: United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy Region 
United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy RegionCopyright: United Press Center of the Defense Forces of the Tauriy Region 
ReutersCopyright: Reuters Rescue efforts are ongoing in the central cityImage caption: Rescue efforts are ongoing in the central city
Latest PostThat's all from us
James FitzGerald
Live reporter
Make sure to head here next to read a report by the BBC's Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse, who was among the first journalists to gain access to some of the villages retaken in Ukraine's counter-offensive.
Today's updates were brought to you by Jack Burgess, Krystyna Gajda, Nicholas Yong, Ali Ahmadi, Owen Amos and me.
We're pausing our live coverage shortly...
...but here's a recap of what's been happening with the Ukraine war today:
No change in Russia's objectives in Ukraine - Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been speaking this afternoon - saying there has been no change to Russia’s objectives during its invasion of Ukraine.
He told a gathering of war reporters that Moscow’s military goals “are of a fundamental nature”.
On the eve of the invasion last February, the Russian president said that the Kremlin sought the "demilitarization and denazification" of Ukraine.
In pictures: Recaptured village of Neskuchne
The Reuters news agency has also now been to Neskuchne - a settlement recently recaptured by Ukraine. Here are a couple of the pictures we've received.
BBC given first access to liberated villages
James Waterhouse
Ukraine correspondent in Neskuchne
The BBC is among the first media organisations to be given access to some of the first villages liberated in Ukraine’s counter-offensive.
Out of this cluster of four settlements in the Donetsk region, Neskuchne has seen the heaviest fighting - according to the battalion which liberated it.
Its name means “not boring” in Russian. An obvious irony for a village which has been occupied since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion last year. Neskuchne was at the most northern point of a protruding Russian front line.
As our army escort, Anatoliy, speeds along scarred roads in his camouflaged truck towards Neskuchne, it’s clear this is a different kind of liberation to what we saw last year.
Firstly, there are no civilians here. The only remnants of civilisation come in the form of a blown-out pharmacy and food store. There isn’t a complex network of trenches either. A makeshift wooden bridge over a river is all it takes to take us into territory Russia has held for so long.
Buildings are also riddled with bullet holes from smaller calibre weapons. There’s been a lot of close-quarter fighting here.
Anatoliy doesn’t like to hang around for long. Mortars are periodically fired from Ukrainian troops hidden in thick tree lines or abandoned gardens. He explains the Russians are just on the brow of hill in three directions.
The sudden rising of three plumes of smoke is a cue to keep moving. The Russians are responding with Grad missiles.
The situation here is far more fluid than the triumphant claims of liberation which had come from from Kyiv this week. Russian forces have been pushing back as recently as last night, which Ukrainian officials have now acknowledged.
Ukraine’s counter-offensive is in its early stages with modest gains. If Neskuchne is anything to go by, any liberation will be far from immediate, and won’t necessarily bring freedom straight away.
Recap: What's the latest?
If you're just joining our live coverage, here's the latest from the war in Ukraine.
Where is Ukraine gaining ground?
Ukraine says it has recently liberated seven villages in the south-east of the country from Russian control.
These are seen as the first victories in the country's counter-offensive, which President Zelensky acknowledged on Saturday to be under way.
Here's the latest map of locations where "the national flag is once again waving", as officials in Storozheve put it.
Read more on Ukraine's counter-offensive here.
Warning of vegetable price increases after Kakhovka flooding
With some 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) of agricultural land under water after the Kakhovka dam breach, Ukrainian officials are warning that the prices of staple products such as soy beans, corn and wheat will likely increase, as food production in the country takes a hit.
Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotskyi told the BBC World Service earlier that regions such as North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are the most vulnerable to disruptions in Ukrainian exports.
Vysotskyi estimated that the loss of agricultural products amounted to between three and four million tonnes, worth about $1b (£796m). Up to 15% of the flooded areas will no longer be able to function as farmland.
But internal consumption will not be critically affected, he said, as Ukraine exports around 70% of its agricultural production.
The UN also warned earlier that the incident would have "a huge impact on global food security".
Russia yet to give safety guarantees over Kakhovka aid - UN official
We've been hearing a bit more about ongoing humanitarian efforts to help people affected by severe flooding in southern Ukraine, following last week's major breach of the Kakhovka dam.
The United Nations' humanitarian co-ordinator for Ukraine - Denise Brown - says the UN is engaging with both Ukrainian and Russian governments to reach anyone who may "urgently require live-saving assistance".
She says "we have boats, personnel and supplies ready to go", but adds that Russia "is yet to provide the safety guarantees we need to cross the front line to the left bank of the Dnipro river".
Brown continues by saying the guarantees "are necessary for the safety of our team".
BBC Verify
Paul Brown
Analysing Russian claims of captured Leopard tanks
Video content
Russia's defence ministry says its troops have captured multiple German-made Leopard tanks and US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles in southern Ukraine.
Video footage posted to the ministry's Telegram channel on Tuesday shows soldiers inspecting the vehicles, one of whom shouts “Glory to Russia!”.
BBC Verify has examined the footage and found the position of the vehicles. The extent of damage matches the equipment seen in videos posted on social media last week. We confirmed the location of these damaged vehicles in a rural area, south-east of the town of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia region.
In the footage we have seen so far, only one Leopard tank and several Bradleys are visible - displaying varying degrees of damage.
We are verifying more footage allegedly showing Western-supplied equipment damaged or captured in Ukraine.
Death toll in Kryvyi Rih up to 11
The number of people killed in the missile strikes on Kryvyi Rih has risen to 11, a Ukrainian official says.
"During this terrible night, the enemy killed 11 civilians in the city," says Serhiy Lysak, the Dnipropetrovsk regional governor.
The earlier death toll was 10, but Lysak says another victim has been found.
Russian shelling kills 72-year-old priest - Ukraine official
A 72-year-old priest has been killed by Russian shelling in the Ukrainian settlement of Bilozerka, in the Kherson region, Ukraine presidential chief of staff says.
In a post on Telegram, Andriy Yermak says artillery fire hit the church courtyard and also injured a 76-year-old woman.
Thousand missiles since start of year - former Ukraine PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin must "pay the price" for the invasion of Ukraine, former Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk tells the BBC.
Noting that Russia has launched around 1,000 missiles on Ukraine since the start of the year, he adds: "The time will come when he will be behind the bars."
Yatsenyuk also urges his country's western allies to come up with a long-term strategy to support his country, as Ukraine continues the "hard toil" of winning the war.
"I believe Ukraine is a flourishing democracy. But to defend this democracy, we have to win this war."
Russia claims to have repelled Ukrainian attacks
Russian forces have repelled Ukrainian attacks near several villages in the southern part of Donetsk region, says Russia's defence ministry.
They include Rivnopil, Prechystivka and Makarivka.
Ukrainian forces earlier claimed that they had liberated several villages - including Makarivka - as part of its counter-offensive.
In its daily briefing, Russia's defence ministry added that Ukraine was continuing to mount attacks in the south Donetsk and Bakhmut areas.
Wagner chief: Ukraine's offensive potential 'far, far from exhausted'
The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group - whose fighters have fought alongside regular Russian troops - has said Ukraine's offensive potential is "far, far from exhausted".
In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Yevgeny Prigozhin writes of the offensive: "It will take a month and a half or two, and we will have to decide whether they have achieved their result or not."
He also added he was "not sure" if Wagner would continue operating in Ukraine after the months-long battle around Bakhmut.
Prigozhin is know for his publicity-seeking outbursts.
He has often found himself at odds with Russia's political and military leadership - most recently over an apparent move by the state to take direct control of his group.
Watch: 'Captured tanks' footage posted by Russia
As we reported earlier, the BBC's been looking at video footage from Russia's defence ministry posted on messaging app Telegram.
The BBC Verify team says it appears to be genuine footage - which shows German-made Leopard tanks and US-made Bradley fighting vehicles captured by Russian forces on the battlefield.
Watch the clip here.
Video content
Watch: Are Russians optimistic about the war?
Video content
In this report, the BBC's Russia editor Steve Rosenberg takes the opportunity to see what residents of the capital Moscow think and feel about the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
Ukraine has been making minor gains in its counter-offensive in recent days - but analysts say it will need to retake land on a much larger scale in the south of the country to consider its efforts a success.
In pictures: The capture of Makarivka
Here are some images supplied by the Ukrainian armed forces, purporting to show the village of Makarivka in the Donetsk region. It's among the seven settlements which the Ukrainians claim to have recently recaptured during their counter-offensive against the Russians.
"The battles are fierce, but we have movement and that is crucial," said President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video address on Monday night. "The enemy's losses are exactly what we need."
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Ukrainian forces had taken control of an area of 35 square miles (90 square kilometres). This is a fraction of the 40,000 square miles that remains under Russian control.
Despite the gains being modest, they represent Ukraine's most rapid advance in months.
Russian general killed in Ukraine - military blogger
A high-ranking Russian general has been killed in Ukraine, according to pro-Kremlin military blogger Yuri Kotenok - who has 420,000 subscribers on the messaging app Telegram.
Kotenok says Maj Gen Sergei Goryachev died in a missile strike.
The news has not yet been confirmed by any official sources and the BBC has so far been unable to verify the claims.
But many of Russia's military bloggers have front-line experience and have been useful and insightful sources of information about the Ukraine war, in the absence of official comment (as this article explains).
If confirmed, Goryachev would be the first Russian general to be killed in Ukraine this year, according to the independent Russian investigative news service Agentstvo.
Kryvyi Rih toll up to 10
Ten people are now known to have died following an overnight missile strike on Kryvyi Rih.
In his Telegram post, local official Oleksandr Vilkul says one person is still trapped under rubble, and 28 people have been injured - with varying degrees of severity.
He again describes the rescue operation as "ongoing".
Regional governor Serhiy Lysak clarifies that six bodies were recovered from a business premises - and four from a different, five-storey building.