Heavy casualties on both sides as Ukraine offensive edges forward

British intelligence report comes as Kyiv celebrates liberation of eighth settlement in south of country

Heavy casualties are being endured by both Ukrainian and Russian forces, British military intelligence has said, as Kyiv celebrated the liberation of an eighth settlement in the south of the country, two weeks into its offensive.

The level of losses among Russian troops was said by British officials to be at its highest level since the peak of March’s battle for Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, with Ukraine claiming to have killed or injured 4,600 troops.