Russia grinds towards Sloviansk, Putin threatens bigger offensive

Kramatorsk is among the last major urban hubs under control of Kyiv's forces in east Ukraine

At least one killed, several wounded in bombing in Ukraine's Kramatorsk

Russian forces left a trail of destruction Thursday, seeking to push deeper into the eastern Donbas region as President Vladimir Putin said his military campaign was still ramping up.

Diplomatic tensions meanwhile mounted between Ankara and Kyiv, with Ukraine accusing Turkey of ignoring calls to seize Ukrainian grain being transported by a Russian ship.

The explosion left a gaping crater next to a hotel and residential buildings and several cars were on fire, AFP journalists said, as emergency services arrived on the scene.

He also sounded a note of menace towards the West, telling the alliance that has coalesced against his invasion of Ukraine that if they wanted to defeat Russia on the battlefield "let them try".

The fatalities came after Ukrainian officials again called for civilians in the region to flee, as Russian forces turn their sights on the city of Sloviansk.

Russian troops captured cities in the Lugansk region after long battles, consolidating their hold in the east after failing at the start of the February invasion to take the capital Kyiv and Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv.

Johnson said that even though he was leaving office, Britain would continue supporting Ukraine for "as long as it takes". 

"We don't doubt that Great Britain's support will continue, but your personal leadership and your charisma made it special," he said.

The marinetraffic.com website on Thursday showed the vessel moving away from Turkey's Black Sea port of Karasu before apparently switching off its transponder and disappearing from view.

- Control over Snake Island -

"The bigger defense support to Ukraine will be now, the quicker the war will end with our victory and the lesser will be losses of all countries in the world," he said.

"I want to thank for the final stage of the fight for Snake Island.  Our national flag was erected there. This operations lasted for two months," Zelensky said.

Russia said it pulled back from the symbolic island in a gesture of "good will", but has since continued targeting positions there.

Finland meanwhile passed legislation to build stronger fences on its border with Russia, as the country seeks to join NATO following the invasion.

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