The Latest Breaking News from Moscow

Russia's incoming defence minister on Tuesday said that Moscow's priority was to secure victory on the battlefield against Ukraine while minimising human losses.

Moscow has opened a new front with Ukraine after taking several villages near Kharkiv. Russia’s spring offensive takes form as President Vladimir Putin replaces defence minister Sergei Shoigu with another Kremlin loyalist – Andrei Belousov, the deputy prime minister in charge of the economy.

Putin proposed Andrei Belousov, who until recently served as the first deputy prime minister, to replace Sergei Shoigu in a Cabinet shakeup.

Sergei Shoigu, who is being replaced as Russia's defence minister, spearheaded Moscow's offensive in Ukraine and has been the country's longest-serving minister, as well as being one of Vladimir Putin's few close friends.

General Syrskii says situation in northeastern oblast ‘significantly worsened’ this week as Russian forces advance.

Ukrainian commander admits his forces are on the back foot as Russia claims to have taken more villages

Photos showed elderly civilians being helped into evacuation vehicles with their pets and belongings

Fierce fighting raged into a second day on the fringes of Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region on Saturday as Moscow said it had captured five villages, while Kyiv said it was repulsing the attacks and battling for control of the settlements.

Hundreds of people were evacuated from areas near the Russian border in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, the regional governor said Saturday, a day after Moscow launched a surprise ground offensive.