Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin sends in new troops to ‘overstretched’ frontline as Kyiv ‘digs in’ in Verbove

Moscow has deployed more troops to their ‘overstretched’ front line, according to the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD). It comes as a Ukrainian military spokesman, Oleksandr Shtupun, told the news site Espreso TV that Ukrainian troops were digging in and poised to move on the village of Verbove as part of their advance to the Sea of Azov. The spokesman for troops in the south said: “I believe we will soon have good news.” The MoD says that following the creation of Russia’s 25th Combined Arms Army (25 CAA), which was reportedly seen in Ukraine for the first time in August, Moscow has deployed them to reinforce under-defended areas on the frontline. “[The] 67th Motor Rifle Division and 164th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade are reported to be fighting on the front in a sector west of Severodonetsk and Kreminna, along the border between Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts,” the MoD said. They suggest that this makes a fresh offensive from Russian forces unlikely, as they were not deployed en masse to one area. The MoD said: “With 25 CAA apparently being deployed piecemeal to reinforce the over-stretched line, a concerted new Russian offensive is less likely over the coming weeks.” Read More Belarus' top diplomat says he can't imagine his nation entering the war in Ukraine alongside Russia Destruction in Ukraine’s eastern village of Klishchiivka captured in aerial footage Canada's government calls on House speaker to resign over inviting a man who fought for a Nazi unit Explosions from Russian drone attack on Odesa region seen from ferry on Danube