Ukraine-Russia war: Russian forces ‘taken by surprise’ as Ukrainian counter-offensive advances 50km, says UK – live

As we just mentioned, the UK’s Ministry of Defence is reporting that Ukraine’s counter-offensive has taken Russian forces by surprise.

Ukrainian troops, it adds, have advanced 50km (31 miles) along a narrow front line and have retaken or surrounded several towns.

It says:

Ukrainian units are now threatening the town of Kupiansk; its capture would be a significant blow to Russia because it sits on…