Fierce fighting reported in Ukraine's south and east

Kathmandu:  Fierce clashes have been reported in Ukraine's east and southeastern regions on Monday.

Russian-backed officials and military bloggers are reporting fierce fighting along the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia.

The fighting is taking place south of the town of Velyka Novosilka along both sides of the Mokri Yaly river, an area where the Ukrainians appear to have had greater success than elsewhere in the initial stages of their counter-offensive.

A senior Russian-appointed official, Vladimir Rogov, spoke of heavy fighting in an area known as the Vremivka ridge, claiming that higher ground remained under Russian control.

Rogov, a member of the Russian-installed Zaporizhzhia administration, said on Telegram that Russian attack helicopters were in action, adding that 'reciprocal shelling and heavy fighting of ultra-high intensity continues' in the vicinity of the village of Urozhaine.

Rogov conceded that Ukrainian forces were "holding their positions on the northern and eastern outskirts of the village.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that fighting in a long-awaited offensive against Russian forces was 'tough' but claimed Kyiv was 'moving forward'.

'The fighting is tough, but we are moving forward, this is very important,' Zelensky said in a daily evening address, 'I thank our guys for every Ukrainian flag that is now returning to its rightful place in villages on the newly de-occupied territory.'

Similarly, Ukraine's defence minister Ganna Malyar said on Telegram on Monday that 'seven settlements were liberated' in eastern and southern Ukraine from Russian forces since the weekend.