Summary

  • Ukraine's counter-offensive has resulted in further advances and some "extremely fierce battles", a minister in Kyiv says

  • Russia has argued the manoeuvre is failing, but the head of the Nato military alliance reckons it's still "early days" for Ukraine's military push

  • The Ukrainians say their troops have recaptured seven settlements and at least 90 sq km (35 square miles) since launching the offensive

  • Earlier, at least three people were killed in a relatively rare Russian attack on the Black Sea port of Odesa - and three others died after strikes in the eastern Donetsk region

  • And the Kremlin says it's concerned after unconfirmed reports of an injury for a senior Chechen commander who's had a prominent role during the invasion

Live Reporting

Edited by James FitzGerald

  1. Square mile of territory gained over three days - Ukraine

    The Ukrainians say they've liberated just over 3 sq km (one square mile) of territory over the last three days.

    Spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Kovalyov, told the United News TV marathon that troops had advanced by distances ranging from 200m to 1.4km (0.9 miles).

    Alluding to the situation in the south, Kovalyov added: "In the Berdyansk direction, hostilities continue in the vicinity of the village of Makarivka. Fighting is also under way in the vicinity of Novodanylivka and Novopokrovka."

    His update comes after Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on Monday that troops had taken back some 90 sq km (35 square miles) over the previous week.

    Ukrainian forces in the Kyiv regionEPA

    Ukrainian forces have made modest gains in recent days

  2. Ukraine calls for more Russian sanctions - citing missile components

    Ukraine presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak has tweeted to say that the Kalibr missiles allegedly used by Russia in its overnight strike on Odesa have "at least 40 foreign components".

    He uses this to call on the international community to punish Moscow.

    Without microelectronics, the RF (Russian Federation) will not be able to produce them. Sanctions must be strengthened, in particular, against those which help the RF to get components."

    Andriy Yermak, Ukraine presidential chief of staff

  3. BBC map shows the locations of seven settlements which Ukraine says its soldiers have recently recaptured: Neskuchne, Blahodatne, Makarivka, Storozheve, Novodarivka, Levadne and Lobkove.

    That report from James Waterhouse mentioned in our previous post came from the village of Neskuchne - which is highlighted in red on this map.

    Also shown are the other six settlements which Ukraine says it has recently retaken as part of its counter-offensive.

  4. Inside one of the villages freed from Russian forces

    Our Ukraine correspondent James Waterhouse has been able to reach a settlement in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine that has just been liberated.

    Travelling with an army escort, he crossed a makeshift wooden bridge over a river to enter the village of Neskuchne.

    He described evidence of fierce fighting, with buildings riddled with bullet holes and a blown-out pharmacy.

    And it would appear the situation is still very fluid - mortar and rocket fire from Ukrainian and Russian positions nearby meant he didn't hang around for long.

    You can watch his report by clicking on the play button above, and read his full report here.

  5. Yesterday's attack on Kryvyi Rih claims another victim

    It's a day of mourning in the home city of President Volodymyr Zelensky, after civilians were killed in a Russian missile strike yesterday - Russia is yet to comment.

    A twelfth person in Kryvyi Rih died overnight, says a local official. Oleksandr Vikul writes in an update on the Telegram messaging app that a 67-year-old man is the latest victim.

    Civilians gather behind an emergency cordonReuters

    People gather in Kryvyi Rih after yesterday's attack

  6. Nuclear plant inspection delayed - Russian news agency

    A view shows Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the bank of Kakhovka Reservoir near the town of NikopolReuters

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi is scheduled to visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant today. There are concerns that the plant has been affected - or has the potential to be affected - by last week's massive dam breach downstream.

    The safety of the plant been a concern since Russian forces seized it over a year ago. The IAEA (the United Nations' nuclear watchdog) says it needs access to a site near the plant to check water levels after the reservoir lost a large portion of its water. Water is essential for cooling systems within the plant.

    Grossi met President Volodymyr Zelensky yesterday to discuss the impact on critical infrastructure after the flooding. But Russian news agency RIA is now saying his visit to Zaporizhzhia today has been delayed.

    We'll keep an eye on this and bring you more as we get it.

  7. Putin acknowledges 54 Russian tanks lost

    Putin with war correspondentsSPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

    Putin spoke to war bloggers yesterday

    The Russian president held a meeting with war bloggers yesterday, and claimed that Ukraine's counter-offensive has not made progress.

    He told the group, gathered in Moscow, that the Russian military campaign may evolve, but will not fundamentally change.

    He also said:

    • Ukraine was behind the Kakhovka dam strike, with the damage caused by Kyiv shelling and US-made HIMARS systems. Ukraine insists the dam was blown up by Russian forces
    • During the Ukrainian counter-offensive, Russia has lost 54 tanks in comparison to Ukraine’s 160 - and Ukraine’s human losses are ten times higher than Russia’s

    Neither of these claims have been verified so far.

  8. Ukraine attacked by 10 missiles, 10 drones - military

    A total of 10 missiles and 10 drones struck Ukraine overnight on Wednesday, says the Ukrainian air force.

    Three of four Kalibr missiles, launched from the Black Sea, were shot down. One hit the city of Odesa.

    The update says the results of six Kh-22 missiles launched on Donetsk region are being established. (You can read more about alleged overnight strikes in this region in our posts below.)

    Nine of the 10 Iranian-made drones were also shot down.

  9. In pictures: Eastern region comes under fire

    Here are more images following those attacks in Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk that we mentioned in our last post.

    A police officer helps a woman to evacuate a destroyed building in KostiantynivkaDonetsk Regional Military-Civil Administration/Reuters

    A police officer helps a woman in Kostiantynivka

    A police officer carries a child away from a destroyed house in KramatorskDonetsk Regional Military-Civil Administration/Reuters

    Another officer was pictured carrying a child away from a destroyed house in Kramatorsk

    Civilians stand next to a huge craterDonetsk Regional Military-Civil Administration/Reuters

    People are seen standing by a huge crater

  10. Three more deaths in Donetsk region

    A police officer inspects a residential area hit by a Russian missile strike in KostiantynivkaDonetsk Regional Military-Civil Administration/Reuters

    The scene in Kostiantynivka, in the eastern Donetsk region

    It's not only Odesa that's come under attack this morning.

    Three civilians have been killed in strikes in the eastern Donetsk region, regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko writes in a Facebook post.

    He says two people were killed and two injured in Kramatorsk, with another death and another injury in Kostiantynivka.

    Russia is yet to comment on the latest alleged strikes, though has previously denied targeting civilians.

  11. Authorities in Odesa search under rubble

    Firefighter on rubble heapUkrainian Armed Forces

    Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesman for the Odesa military administration, has posted a video and photographs on the Telegram messaging app.

    It shows multi-storey buildings with parts of their walls missing and windows blown out - as well as firefighters battling against flames in what it appeared be a warehouse.

    The military says it's continuing to sift through the debris, in case there are people trapped underneath.

  12. Ukrainian TV carries more detail on Odesa attack

    A shopping mall, office and apartment buildings damaged by a Russian missile strike in OdesaReuters

    A Kyiv TV station is quoting the Operational Command South as saying Odesa was targeted with four Kalibr missiles launched from a ship in the Black Sea.

    According to One Plus One TV, two missiles were shot down by air defences, one more hit a warehouse of a retailer where a fire broke out. Three employees were killed and seven wounded, it said.

    According to the presenter, a business centre, an educational establishment, a residential complex, cafes and shops in the city centre were also damaged and at least six residents were wounded there.

    Odesa map.

  13. Today's strike follows hit on Zelensky's home town yesterday

    James FitzGerald
    Live reporter

    The latest civilian deaths in Odesa come amid scrutiny of the Ukrainian counter-offensive in the south-east - which President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged to be under way at the weekend.

    The Russians have sought to pour cold water on this, although Ukraine insists it's pushing forward. We'll be reflecting any new developments in today's coverage.

    This morning's strike follows a hit in Kryvyi Rih - the president's home city - this time yesterday. Eleven people died.

    With my colleague Emma Owen, I'm taking over the page from Phelan Chatterjee. Thanks for joining us.

  14. Attacks on civilians show need for assistance - Zelensky

    Mayeni Jones
    Reporting from Kyiv

    During his overnight address, President Zelensky said recent strikes by Russia on civilians proved that Ukraine’s partners needed to ensure his country had enough air defence systems and modern fighter jets.

    On Tuesday the US announced an additional $325m (£186m) worth of security assistance to Ukraine, including to its air defences.

    Meanwhile in Russia, President Vladimir Putin told reporters Kyiv's losses were approaching "catastrophic" levels. He also suggested Ukraine's troop losses were ten times greater than Russia's - insisting the ongoing counteroffensive had been unsuccessful so far.

    Kyiv says its troops have made advances in Bakhmut, in the eastern region of Donetsk.

  15. In pictures: Aftermath of the attack on Odesa

    Firefighters tackle a blaze in Odesa following a missile attackReuters

    Firefighters tackle a blaze in Odesa following a missile attack

    The aftermath of the missile strikes in OdesaReuters

    The aftermath of the missile strikes in Odesa

    The missiles targeted a warehouse, a business centre and shopsReuters

    The missiles targeted a warehouse, a business centre and shops

    The buildings were charred by the overnight attackReuters

    The buildings were charred by the overnight attack

  16. Overnight strike on Odesa leaves three dead

    A destroyed building in OdesaReuters

    Ukrainian authorities have said that at least three people were killed and 13 wounded in a Russian missile attack overnight on the port city of Odesa.

    The missiles targeted a warehouse, a business centre and shops.

    Ukraine's Southern Command warned that people may still be trapped under the rubble at the sites of the attacks.

  17. Good morning and welcome

    Thank you for joining us as we resume our live coverage of the conflict in Ukraine.

    Overnight, we've been following reports of fresh Russian strikes in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa. Officials say three people are dead and over a dozen are wounded.

    This comes the morning after Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Ukraine’s counter-offensive was failing and that Ukraine’s human losses were 10 times higher than Russia’s.

    Kyiv said it had retaken several villages, and the BBC’s James Waterhouse was one of the first journalists to see inside a recently recaptured settlement of Neskuchne.

    The recently liberated villages are seen as early victories in the Ukrainian counter-offensive, which President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed at the weekend to be under way - but gains remain relatively modest at this stage.

    Follow us throughout the day as we will bring you all the latest developments from London and from our correspondents on the ground in Ukraine.