Inside the devastated Ukrainian town freed from the Russians

President Putin is due to address the Russian nation tonight – in what many believe could mark a major turn in the Ukraine war.

Panicked, perhaps by the sheer speed and success of Ukraine’s counter offensive, Russian-backed proxies in the temporarily occupied areas all abruptly announced referendums will be held in the next few days – on joining the Russian Federation .

Meanwhile, the state Parliament passed a law introducing the concepts of ‘mobilisation’ and martial law into the criminal code – as well as tough jail terms for surrender or desertion.