Ukraine forces advance north after fall of Russian stronghold

Ukrainian forces have advanced north from Kharkiv to within 50 km of the border with Russia and are also pressing to the south and east in the same region, Ukrainian chief commander said on Sunday

Ukrainian forces kept pushing north in the Kharkiv region and advancing to the south and east of the country after the swift fall of Russia's main bastion in the northeast, Ukraine's army chief said on Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Russia's retreat from the city of Izium in the Kharkiv province as a breakthrough in the six-month-old war, saying this winter could bring more rapid gains of territory if Kyiv can get more powerful weapons.

"In the Kharkiv direction, we began to advance not only to the south and east, but also to the north. There are 50 km to go