Russian forces step up attacks in Ukraine’s east as one-year mark looms

Zelenskiy says Ukraine ‘will prevail’ as general staff reports 90 assaults in 24 hours in country’s east and north-east

• Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates

Russian forces have stepped up attacks along the eastern frontline of the war in Ukraine as Kyiv prepares to mark the sombre first anniversary of the invasion.

Amid fears that the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, intends to mark the anniversary with fresh attacks on Ukrainian cities, Ukraine’s general staff said it had repelled 90 assaults in the past 24 hours in the east and north-east.