Ukraine-Russia war - live: Putin forced to increase number of soldiers on ground as UK estimates death toll

Vladimir Putin has been forced to increase the number of soldiers on the ground as Russia has amassed “150,000-190,000 permanent casualties” in the war with Ukraine, the UK ministry of defence has estimated. The Ukrainian ministry of defence also claimed the recent Russian assaults in Avdiivka have contributed to “a 90 per cent increase in Russian casualties”. It comes as Russian forces maintained pressure on the town of Avdiivka in the east and intensified shelling in the southern area of Kherson on Sunday. Avdiivka has become a watchword for resistance, viewed as the gateway to recapturing the Russian-held city of Donetsk and the rest of Donbas. The General Staff of Ukraine‘s Armed Forces said Ukrainian forces repelled nearly 20 Russian attacks around Avdiivka, its buildings now largely reduced to shells. Russian air strikes hit nearby villages, it said. In other developments, six people have been killed in a Russian missile attack that hit a postal distribution centre in Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials have said, as Kherson has seen a record number of bomb attacks in the past 24 hours. Read More Six killed and 16 injured in Russian missile strike on Kharkiv mail depot Aftermath of Russian missile strike on Ukraine mail depot that killed six in Kharkiv Ukrainians prepare firewood and candles to brace for a winter of Russian strikes on the energy grid Ukrainian officials say civilians were killed and wounded in Russian overnight attacks