Russian says it took two more east Ukrainian villages in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as its forces continue their advance deeper into the country.

The defence ministry said Russian forces captured the village of Mykolaivka, around 15 kilometres from the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, as well as the settlement of Stelmakhivka in the neighbouring Lugansk region.

Russian forces have been making steady and determined advances towards the logistics hub of Pokrovsk, once home to some sixty thousand people over recent months.

Outnumbered Ukrainian forces awaiting more Western military aid have struggled to hold back their assaults.

Kyiv earlier this month launched a surprise ground assault into Russia’s border region of Kursk hoping that the offensive would draw Moscow’s army away from Donetsk.