Russia launched a barrage of missile strikes on Ukraine on Thursday as Russian forces renewed their assault in the east of the country.
Ukrainian authorities said one of the strikes killed a 79-year-old woman and injured at least seven other people.
Russian forces used a variety of missile types, firing 36 in all in a two-hour overnight burst, Ukraine's Air Force said. Half of them were shot down, a lower rate than normal.
The head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said Russian forces “changed their tactics” for the strike, using what he described as “active reconnaissance” and “false targets.” He gave no details.
One of the overnight strikes caused casualties and destroyed homes in the eastern city of Pavlohrad, the regional governor said.
The strike destroyed seven homes, damaged 30 others and caused a fire at an industrial plant that emergency services put out within hours, the governor added.
Battles continue in the Donbas region, with the head of the mercenary outfit Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, saying that Russian forces could capture the embattled city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine "in March or in April".
In messages distributed online overnight, he lamented the slow progress on the ground as he criticised Russia's "monstrous military bureaucracy".
He also said that Ukraine's new weaponry from the West was making their advance more difficult.
“Although it is hard to estimate. They [Ukrainian forces] are now getting new types of weapons. [It’s] 100 per cent that we will be destroying these [German-made] Leopard [tanks], 100 per cent that we will figure out how to burn them down. But it is still an important factor,” Mr Prigozhin said.
Mr Prigozhin said through his representatives earlier this week that the “toughest battles” were under way north of Bakhmut.
Drones and weapons supplied to Ukraine - in pictures
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Turkeysold its Bayraktar TB2 armed drones to Ukraine. They can fly at an altitude of 7,500 metres and swoop down to attack targets. AFP -
The US also gave 700 of its Switchblade kamikaze drones. AP -
Cheap commercial drones like the DJI Mavic series have been modified in Ukraine. AFP -
Germany will follow the US in providing a Patriot missile defence system, pictured above, to Ukraine. Reuters -
FIM-92 Stinger rockets have been donated to help Ukrainian infantry engage aircraft and drones. The shoulder-launched missiles can shoot down aircraft. Photo: US Army -
Germany donated 25 Flakpanzer Gepard all-weather-capable self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. AFP -
The High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or Himars, can simultaneously launch several precision-guided missiles. The US has given Ukraine projectiles with a range of about 130 kilometres. EPA -
M777 howitzers and about 300,000 shells have been donated to give Ukraine an accurate artillery platform with a range of 50 kilometres. EPA -
Ukraine has been sent at least 5,000 of the anti-tank weapons known as NLAWs. These shoulder-launched rockets have proved deadly in the field. PA -
Ukrainian troops have also received thousands of Javelin anti-tank missiles. Bloomberg -
Poland and the Czech Republic sent Russian-made T72 tanks, which Ukraine has used for decades, to ease integration and cut down training time. EPA -
France as announced its plan to give AMX-10 RC “scout tanks” to Ukraine. "This is the first time that western-made armoured vehicles are being delivered in support of the Ukrainian army," a French official said. AFP -
Shortly after the French, the US said it would send Bradley fighting vehicles to provide "a level of firepower and armour that would bring advantages on the battlefield”. Reuters -
The UK sent their phased-out Saxon armoured vehicles. They found new life protecting infantry units in transit and dealing with tough off-road conditions. Getty Images -
Denmark has supplied Harpoon anti-ship launchers to help Ukraine defend its coasts. AFP -
The US sent 20 Soviet and Russian made Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine that had initially been bought for the Afghan government in 2010. AP -
Germany has also supplied its latest version of the IRIS-T air defence system designed to shoot down missiles at altitudes up to 20 kilometres. Getty Images -
Ukraine has also been given thousands of small arms, bullet proof vests, medical kits, litres of fuel, granades and other weapons systems. Reuters
His soldiers were storming the area “house by house, square metre by square metre” while the Ukrainian army intensified artillery fire and sent up to 500 new fighters to the embattled city every day, he said.
Ukrainian military analysts said Russian troops had launched several unsuccessful attacks on villages to the north and south of Bakhmut during the past day.
"Things are very difficult for our forces there as Russian troops are being sent into the area en masse," analyst Oleh Zhdanov said.
Bakhmut's capture would give Russia a stepping stone to advance on two bigger cities, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, farther west in Donetsk, which would revive Moscow's momentum before the February 24 anniversary of the start of the war.
Trying to counter that, Nato alliance nations are increasing production of artillery munitions in efforts to keep pace with Ukraine's rapid use of them.
Ukraine has received billions of dollars in military aid, particularly from the United States, which has committed more than $27.4 billion since the conflict began.
Senior US officials have advised Ukraine to hold off with a major offensive until the latest supply of US weaponry is in place and training has been provided.
"We have to ensure that this spring it is truly felt that Ukraine is moving towards victory," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an evening address.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is scheduled to meet Mr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Thursday in the first such visit since the Russian invasion last year, the Foreign Ministry said.
While Israel has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has limited its assistance to Kyiv to humanitarian aid and protective gear.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who returned to power in December, has spoken about reviewing Israeli policy on the Ukraine-Russia war but stopped short of pledging any direct supply of arms to Kyiv.
The Israelis want to maintain a co-ordination hotline with Russia, set up in 2015, over their military strikes on suspected Iranian targets in Syria, where Moscow has a garrison. They are also mindful of the welfare of Russia's big Jewish community.
Mr Cohen was expected to attend the reopening of the Israeli embassy, which has returned to full activity, the ministry said.
