• Ukraine’s military has taken control of half of the city of Severodonetsk, local sources say.
• The strategically crucial city is the largest in the Lugansk region not under Russian control.
• Ukrainian President praises his country’s “heroes” as he visits the front lines.

Ukrainian military has repelled Russian forces and taken control of half of a critical eastern city, local sources say, as President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the front lines to praise his country’s “real heroes.”

More assistance was promised from overseas as the see-saw struggle for the strategically crucial city of Severodonetsk raged on the largest in the Lugansk region not under Russian control.

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Since Putin ordered Russian forces into Ukraine on February 24, thousands of civilians have been slaughtered and millions have been forced to flee their homes.

Since April, fighting has centred in Ukraine’s east, where Russian forces have made modest but steady gains after being fought back in other parts of the country, including the capital Kyiv.

Ukraine’s advances in Severodonetsk, as claimed by regional governor Sergiy Gaiday, would be a big step forward for Kyiv’s troops, who had previously appeared to be on the verge of being driven out of the city.

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