Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine has entered its most active phase, according to Ukraine’s defence ministry spokesperson, Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, writes The Guardian.

“Battles being fought in eastern Ukraine could determine the country’s fate. The situation on the (eastern) front is extremely difficult because the fate of this country is perhaps being decided (there) right now”, - he added.

Russian forces have taken control of three Donetsk region towns including Svitlodarsk, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko. Earlier today, it was reported that Russian forces had entered Svitlodarsk and hung up a Russian flag over the city administration building.

The governor of Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region said the situation there “is only getting worse” as Russian troops advance. “The situation is very difficult and unfortunately it is only getting worse. It is getting worse with every day and even with every hour. They are simply eliminating Severodonetsk from the earth”, - said Governor Sergiy Gaidai.

The bodies of more than 200 people have been discovered in the rubble of a high-rise apartment building in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, according to a Ukrainian official. Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to Mariupol’s mayor Vadym Boychenko, said workers found the bodies while digging through a basement underneath the collapsed building.