Ukraine pushes Russia back in Donetsk as military, civilian casualties soar

What happened: Russian forces are retreating in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, with a Ukrainian counteroffensive named Operation Vivaldi reclaiming land around Lyman. Russia intensified bombing, killing civilians in Pryluky and Kramatorsk. Key numbers: Operation Vivaldi reclaimed 175 sq km around Lyman. Why it matters: Russian sources acknowledged Ukraine recaptured settlements west of Kryva Luka, saying premature liberation claims helped Ukraine. Rybar said storming Sloviansk is receding into the distant future.

Russian forces are retreating in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, with a Ukrainian counteroffensive named Operation Vivaldi reclaiming land around Lyman. Russia intensified bombing, killing civilians in Pryluky and Kramatorsk.

Russian sources acknowledged Ukraine recaptured settlements west of Kryva Luka, saying premature liberation claims helped Ukraine. Rybar said storming Sloviansk is receding into the distant future.