Ukrainian leaders are hoping that the beginning of a long-awaited counterattack will liberate territory occupied by Russian troops for more than a year.

Moscow and Kyiv both reported heavy fighting in Ukraine on Friday, with bloggers describing the first sightings of German and U.S. armour, signalling that Ukraine's long-anticipated counterattack was under way.

Russia reported heavy fighting along the front in southern Ukraine on Friday, where bloggers described the first sightings of German and U.S. armour, signalling that Ukraine's long-anticipated counterattack was under way.

Vladimir Putin says Ukrainian troops have started a long-expected counter-offensive and are suffering “significant” losses. The Russian president’s comments, hours after a string of drone strikes inside Russian territory,

Russia has carried out a new massive drone attack on Ukraine's capital Kyiv. Kyiv's mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said a man died when drone wreckage fell near a petrol station. A woman was injured. Overall, Russia launched a record 54 so-called kamikaze drones on Ukrainian targets, 52 of which were shot down, Ukraine's Air Force reported.