The Latest Breaking News from Donbas

Reporting from Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk, Kim Sengupta speaks to families about their grief over losing loved ones as Russia steps up its assault on the two cities of eastern Ukraine

Russia has claimed the capture of a key railway junction as its forces fight to seize all of eastern Ukraine's contested Donbas region

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold “serious direct negotiations” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to find “a diplomatic solution to the conflict” during a phone call Saturday, the chancellor’s office said. Putin told the two leaders that increasing arms supplies…

A Ukrainian official says forces may have to retreat from their last pocket in the Luhansk region to avoid being captured, as Russian troops press an advance in the east that has shifted the momentum of the three-month-old war.

Russia’s defence ministry says town of Lyman is now under full control of its forces, after days of fighting

US president says Putin trying to eliminate people’s identity, as governor of Luhansk says retreat in Sievierodonetsk may be needed to avoid becoming surrounded.

Lysychansk (Ukraine) (AFP) - Ukraine has said it is doing "everything" to defend Donbas, where an intensifying Russian offensive is prompting Kyiv's forces to consider a strategic retreat from some key areas to avoid being surrounded.

A roundup of key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

While many Ukrainians are still basking in the successful defense of Kyiv, the battle in the Donbas is a punishing grind that poses different challenges.