The Telegraph reports that the Kremlin may again resort to tactics used after Russian army failures on the front - intimidating the civilian population and destroying cities. General Surovikin, who commanded Russian forces in Syria where Aleppo was destroyed and thousands of civilians died, has been involved in preparations for strikes on Kyiv.

Russian forces have been experiencing serious difficulties in their offensive in Donbas for several months. Ukrainian forces are exerting pressure in the areas of Pokrovsk and Lyman, while the losses of the Russian army remain significant.