KYIV — Russia pressed its summer offensive across several fronts in eastern Ukraine on Saturday, with Moscow's Defence Ministry claiming new territorial gains as Ukrainian forces reported intense fighting near Pokrovsk and in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian officials disputed the scale of the claims.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces were advancing on multiple axes, a message it amplified through weekend briefings. Ukraine's General Staff acknowledged sustained pressure but said its troops had repelled dozens of assaults, according to its morning operational report.

Overnight drone and missile strikes hit residential areas in several regions, regional military administrations said. Emergency services in Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk reported casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, including power facilities, according to statements posted by local governors.

The fighting coincided with Western debate over further military aid for Kyiv, following recent European Union pledges to boost defence spending. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged allies to accelerate deliveries of air-defence systems to counter the strikes.

The Kremlin has rejected recent overtures for direct peace talks, insisting on conditions Kyiv considers unacceptable. Both sides have signalled they expect heavy combat to continue through the summer months.