Ukraine says it repels Russian attacks in Kharkiv region, gains in east

The situation in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv is "difficult" but Ukraine's forces are repelling Russian attacks and have re-taken several square kilometres on the eastern front over the past week, a deputy defence minister said on Monday. The Ukrainian military said last week that Russia was attacking towards Kupiansk, a town in the Kharkiv region. Maliar said that Ukrainian forces were advancing south of Bakhmut, the city occupied by Russian forces in May after a bloody months-long struggle, and had liberated another three square kilometres over the past week.