Lysychansk

Russian artillery slammed Ukraine's eastern Donbas region with fierce fighting over the city of Severodonetsk, but the local governor said there was some progress in pushing back invading forces.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Russia has criticized the United States for sending artillery systems to Ukraine

Russia has condemned US plans to send more modern artillery systems to Ukraine and accused Washington of "adding fuel to the fire".

In wheelchairs and on stretchers, in ambulances and on train station platforms, they wait. Medical workers pull out ramps and wheel the patients onto the specially equipped train that will carry them westwards, away from the fighting raging in eastern Ukraine.

Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Russian forces continue the offensive against Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk in the Luhansk region

Ukraine has pledged to do "everything" to defend Donbas, where an intensifying Russian offensive is prompting Kiev's forces to consider a strategic retreat from some key areas to avoid being surrounded.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of carrying out a "genocide" in the eastern region of Donbas, where the city of Severodonetsk is suffering an onslaught of Russian shelling.

Russia has raised the age for recruiting new soldiers, Kuleba has criticized NATO, Putin has met with wounded soldiers. Here are the highlights of events related to the war in Ukraine over the past 24 hours:

Russia attacked 40 cities in Donbas in the span of hours

Five civilians die as Ukrainian forces shell town

LUGANSK -- Five civilians were killed and 16 others wounded in the last 24 hours in the clashes in Lugansk, in southeastern Ukraine.

Infrastructure facilities and 22 homes have been damaged, according to the press service of the city assembly of Lugansk.

At least 9 Ukrainian soldiers die in clashes in east

DONETSK, LUGANSK -- At least nin Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 20 others were wounded last night in two attacks of pro-Russian rebels in the east of Ukraine.