The Latest Breaking News from Kharkiv

‘Heavy fighting continues in many directions,’ Gaidai says

Supporters in shock as Kremlin reneges on vow that helped project power into captured towns and villages

Volodymyr Zelenskiy makes surprise visit to liberated city of Izium. Ukrainian president later involved in car crash in Kyiv but not seriously hurt

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he understood China's Xi Jinping had concerns about the crisis in Ukraine, a surprise acknowledgement of friction with Beijing over the war after a week of stunning Russian losses on the ground.

Across a damaged footbridge over the river Siverskyi Donets, shrapnel-sprayed walls and charred Soviet-era housing stand in a panorama of provincial devastation in Ukraine's liberated town of Izium.

The Ukrainian President watched as his country’s flag was raised and sang the national anthem

Hand on heart, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy watched his country’s flag rise Wednesday above the recaptured city of Izium, making a rare foray outside the capital while highlighting Moscow’s embarrassing retreat from a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Russian forces left the war-scarred city last week as Kyiv's soldiers pressed a stunning advance…

Ukraine has reclaimed 8,000sq km of territory this month inflicting serious blow to Russian military ambitions.

Balakliya was the first target recaptured by Ukrainian troops in their sweeping counteroffensive near Kharkiv

Volodymyr Zelenskiy says around 8,000 sq km have been liberated in counteroffensive in north-east Ukraine

As the Russian occupiers flee, dumping their guns and even roubles, we are joyful but also wary of an ambush, says Ukrainian journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk