Russia's defence ministry denies reports of advances by Ukrainian soldiers on front line in east Ukraine

Russia's defence ministry has denied reports that Ukrainian soldiers have made advances on the front line in east Ukraine. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group fighting on the Russian side, had accused regular Russian troops of abandoning positions



around Bakhmut.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said it was too early to start a counter-offensive.  His army needs more equipment ahead of the counter-offensive.