UK Ministry of Defence says Ukraine has ‘likely made good progress’ in some areas but that progress is ‘slower’ in others.   12:13 Ukrainian deputy foreign minister Andriy Melnyk tweeted “Welcome to Ukraine Mr Prime Minister” on the arrival of Canadian prime minister,

Ukraine’s counter-offensive has already broken through the first Russian lines of defence in places, but its army has taken casualties, British military intelligence said on Saturday.

Ukrainian leaders are hoping that the beginning of a long-awaited counterattack will liberate territory occupied by Russian troops for more than a year.

Ukraine is sending mixed signals about its long-anticipated counteroffensive, but its forces are on the move, and Russians are feeling the war more than ever.

Zelensky is claiming progress while Russian President Vladimir Putin is saying that the counter-offensive is failing

Ukraine has launched attacks at a number of points across the frontline with Russian forces – suggesting that its long-waited counteroffensive is finally kicking into gear. Officials in Kyiv were coy about the surge in military action, allowing the fog of war to cloud whether it marked the start of its push to reclaim land that Russia has occupied.

The Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine has been destroyed, with both Russia and Ukraine accusing each other of responsibility.