Fierce fighting on Russia-Ukraine border signals new front in war

A large section of a ten storey apartment block has collapsed in the Russian city of Belgorod – killing at least seven people and injuring 17.

Russian officials say it was hit by a Soviet-era missile, launched by Ukraine and shot down by Russia.

Over the border, Ukraine’s military chief says his forces are doing all they can to hold the line in the Kharkiv region, where Russia has launched a major assault.

Today, Moscow said it had seized another four villages there, on top of five it announced yesterday.

By stepping up attacks towards Kharkiv, Russia could force Ukrainian troops to divert from the east to the northeast, weakening their defensive line in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which is already under huge strain after recent attacks on the cities of Avdiivka and Chasiv Yar.

A warning, you may find some of the images distressing.