Russia-Ukraine war live: Kyiv disputes Moscow’s claim to control Maryinka in country’s east

Kyiv’s military commander says Ukrainian troops still positioned on flank of town Vladimir Putin says will enable Russian troops to operate in wider area

• What we know on day 672 of the war

The commander of Ukraine’s armed forces said on Tuesday his troops remained in an area of the eastern town of Maryinka despite assertions by Russia’s defence minister that Moscow was in control of the settlement, which has been reduced to ruins after many months of fighting.

Reuters reports that Valery Zaluzhnyi acknowledged to reporters that the town was in ruins, but said Ukrainian troops were still positioned on its northern flank.

At this time today, our troops are still in northern areas. Our troops had readied a defensive line outside this locality, but I can say that this locality no longer exists.

Our assault units … have today completely liberated the settlement of Maryinka.