The first victories of Ukraine’s ­counter­offensive noticed heavy Russian losses and panic spreading within the Kremlin.

Announcements of the success prompted a Russian authorities minister to desperately urge the redoubling of defences, in accordance with British intelligence.

As Kremlin forces floundered, Kyiv introduced it had liberated 4 villages within the south-east within the first beneficial properties of its newly launched large push.

Footage on social media confirmed Ukrainian troops celebrating in Blahodatne and Neskuchne within the Donetsk area. Kyiv’s deputy defence minister mentioned close by Makarivka was additionally taken.

Officials later reported that “the national flag is once again waving” over Storozhove.

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There had been unconfirmed experiences later {that a} fifth village had additionally been regained.

Yuriy Sak, adviser to the Ukrainian defence minister, mentioned Russia was “taking much, much more considerable losses” than Ukraine – with “900 to 1,000 soldiers killed” over the past couple of days.

In its each day intelligence briefing, the UK’s Ministry of Defence mentioned Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu had ordered the nation’s navy to redouble its efforts.

Shoigu, who has additionally “castigated (Russia’s) western military district officers for not dispatching reserve armoured vehicles to the front quickly enough”, has “maintained a high public profile” over the past week.

The MoD mentioned this was most certainly “with the aim of presenting himself as in control of strategic issues” whereas Ukraine accelerates its counter-offensive.

At least two feedback have been made by Shoigu about Russia’s defensive operations, together with “almost certainly exaggerated claims about Ukrainian losses”.

The MoD mentioned that this was in distinction together with his disappearance from public view throughout different key intervals within the struggle. And Shoigu was most certainly “acutely aware” of needing to “maintain a positive image in the face of increasingly unmasked criticism” from Russians, the MoD added.

Kyiv troops might be seen elevating the Ukrainian flag exterior a burned out constructing in Blahodatne. It had a pre-war inhabitants of simply 1,000 residents. The village, which has been the centre of intense combating in current days, sits on the highway in the direction of the town of Mariupol, and a few analysts say Ukraine may search to recapture the port metropolis within the coming months.

The 4 settlements are the primary liberated because the begin of the counteroffensive, however pockets of Ukrainian forces have additionally began advancing within the nation’s south.

Ukrainian troops are mentioned to have superior close to the ruined metropolis of Bakhmut, which was solely taken by Russian troops final month after a battle lasting months.

US assume tank the Institute of War additionally confirmed Kyiv was making advances. It mentioned Ukraine had captured “multiple ­settlements” in western Donetsk over the weekend, together with Neskuchne, Makarivka and Blahodatne.

Moscow has but to substantiate the autumn of any of the villages, as an alternative talking of ­repelling Ukrainian assaults within the area. But ­combating is escalating in all areas.

A Russian provides prepare was derailed within the Bolgorod area after a drone strike.

And Ukraine mentioned the Kremlin had blown up one other dam within the Zaporizhzhia area, following the destruction of the key Kakhovka construction final week, which brought about flooding and mass evacuations.

Valeriy Shershen, a spokesman for the Ukrainian navy, mentioned Moscow’s forces had blown up a second dam close to Novodarivka, which “led to the flooding on both banks of the Mokri Yaly river”.

Mr Shershen mentioned Russia was intentionally blowing up dams to halt Ukraine’s advance.

An air deployment train billed as the most important in NATO’s historical past and hosted by Germany started on Monday.

Around 10,000 members and 250 ­plane from 25 nations will reply to a simulated assault on a NATO member.

German air pressure chief Ingo Gerhartz mentioned: “The exercise is a signal that we are in a position to react very quickly to defend the alliance in case of attack.”