Russian drones, missiles pound eastern Ukraine

Russian drones, artillery and missiles have pounded eastern Ukraine in deadly attacks over the past day, but months into an offensive aimed at capturing all of the Donbas region, Moscow s forces were still struggling to achieve a decisive breakthrough, the Ukrainian authorities said on Saturday.

Ukraine repelled 70 Russian attacks over the past 24 hours on its eastern front, the military s General Staff said in its morning update. The city of Avdiivka, which has been under attack since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago, bore the brunt of the attacks. Fighting continued to rage in Bakhmut, a city where both sides have suffered heavy casualties, and Marinka.

The fighting has posed a dilemma for Ukrainian authorities in the cities and cities under attack. They have urged civilians to leave, but some remain, often hiding in basements, motivated by their commitment to their homes, economic insecurity, or ill health, and other factors.