Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin’s forces advance on Pokrovsk as Kyiv drones ‘spark fires at power plants’

Russian troops are continuing to advance on the key Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk as Moscow begins a fightback.

Vladimir Putin’s forces have encroached on Ukrainain territory near the strategic hub in the east of the country, which is home to a railyway yard and other important logistical assets.

Meanwhile, Kyiv launched waves of drone attacks targeting power and refinery plants in the Moscow region and neighbouring Tver, sparking fires, while tens of drones were destroyed across other parts of the country, Russian officials said on Sunday.

Russia's defence ministry said on the Telegram messaging app that its air defence units had destroyed 158 drones launched by Ukraine overnight, including nine over Moscow and its surrounding region, in one of the biggest Ukrainian drone attacks of the war.

It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired the commander of the country's air force in the wake of a deadly F-16 crash.

The order to dismiss Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk was published on the presidential website on Friday, four days after an F-16 warplane that Ukraine received from its Western partners crashed during a Russian bombardment and killed the pilot, Colonel Alexei “Moonfish” Mes.