Ukrainian soldiers fire weapons and mortars near Bakhmut, while others take rest in makeshift beds.

Earlier this week, deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar said Kyiv’s troops were advancing near the city – the only one Russia captured in its offensive earlier this year.

Heavy battles were engulfing villages south of it, she said.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, reported a “positive dynamic” near Bakhmut

Surge in Russian demand for kamikaze drone insurance – reports

A surge in demand for kamikaze drone insurance has been reported among Russian citizens and businesses.

Some insurers have been selling terrorism packages while others have agreed to pay out for “falling flying objects”, accorded to Izvestia.

Inquiries have risen most in western Russia, where it borders Ukraine, and in Moscow, the Russian newspaper said.

One company, RESO-Garantiya, charges between 500 and 5,000 roubles (£4 to £41) for collision coverage, its deputy director general told the news outlet.

Over at insurer AlfaStrakhovanie, terrorism is not excluded, its property director Denis Titov said.

Ukrainian drone attacks in Belgorod, Kursk, Moscow and other regions have become more frequent in recent months.