Ukraine-Russia war - live: Putin ‘loses 50 tanks as troops launch fresh Donetsk offensive’

Ukrainian forces damaged and destroyed almost 50 Russian tanks in just 24 hours as Vladimir Putin’s troops launched a fresh offensive in the Donetsk region, according to a US war think tank. The Insitute for the Study of War (ISW) said Russian forces launched a renewed attack near Adviika on Friday and “marginally advanced”, indicating Moscow’s commitment to offensive operations in the area “despite heavy materiel and personnel losses”. This includes the damage and destruction of almost 50 Russian tanks and over 100 armored vehicles by Ukrainian forces during the past day of fighting, reported the Ukrainian General Staff on Friday, according to the ISW. It comes as the think tank said a prominent Russian milblogger ‘Rybar’, aka Mikhail Zvinchuk, claimed Ukrainian forces pushed through Russian defences and advanced on the Dnipro River onto the opposite eastern bank, crossing into Russian-occupied territory. According to the ISW, the milblogger alleged they temporarily occupied the village of Poyma and positions on the northern outskirts of Pishchanivka on the afternoon of 17 October. He later claimed that Russian forces pushed Ukrainian forces back from these positions towards the Dnipro River. Read More Russian fighters ‘scrambled over Black Sea to prevent British warplanes approaching Russian airspace’ Biden calls to maintain ‘American leadership’ with aid package for Ukraine and Israel Ukraine's parliament advances bill seen as targeting Orthodox church with historic ties to Moscow Putin says Russia ‘will be able to repel’ Ukraine’s new weapons used to damage Kremlin’s air assets