KIEV: Ukrainian authorities said on Monday that Russian troops are attempting to breach Kiev's defences in the northwest and east in order to gain control of vital highways, cities, and villages.

According to Ukrayinska Pravda, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated on Facebook that Russian troops marching towards Kiev are being kept back by Ukrainian troops.  Ukrainian forces have repelled five Russian strikes on the Donetsk and Luhansk fronts, destroying two Russian tanks, an infantry combat vehicle, and a car, according to the statement.

Defense battles are still being conducted in the Kharkiv region's villages of Topolske, Kamyanka, and Such Kamyanka. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are concentrating their efforts in the south of the country on protecting Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolayiv, as well as maintaining control of areas of the Black Sea coast and the protection and defence of important infrastructure sites.

According to the General Staff, the forces are also deterring Russian troops from approaching the cities of Huliaipole and Zaporizhzhia. The Armed Forces of Ukraine are battling a Russian attack on the village of Verkhnotoretske on the Avdiivka front in the Donetsk region. Defense actions continue on the Volyn and Siversk fronts.

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