Ukraine claims control of key Oskil river on front line

Ukrainian forces say they have regained control of the east bank of the River Oskil, seen as the front line with Russian troops in north-east Ukraine.

Russia’s army has been almost completely pushed out of the Kharkiv region and a regional leader said the next target would be neighboring Luhansk.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the next offensive was being prepared.

Meanwhile, Russia was accused of targeting a nuclear plant in the south.

Ukrainian nuclear operator Enerhoatom said a rocket landed 300m (1,000ft) from nuclear reactors at the country’s second-largest plant in the Mykolayiv region, damaging buildings and shutting down part of a hydroelectric power station at the complex.

The attack has not been independently confirmed, although the company posted footage of an explosion close to the site.

Ukraine’s – and Europe’s – biggest nuclear plant at Zaporizhzhia has come under repeated fire since it was occupied by Russian forces at the start of the war and the UN has called for a safety zone to protect it.

Ukrainian forces have launched counter-offensives in the south as well as the northeast, but they have made dramatic progress this month in the northern Kharkiv region.

President Joe Biden told US TV network that Ukraine was paying a high price but that Russia was “turning out not to be as competent and capable as many people thought they were going to be”

Agencies