Wagner chief slams Russian claims of huge losses inflicted on Ukraine as 'absurd science fiction': Fighting continues at the start of counter-offensive as Western officials say Putin's defences are 'more fragile than first thought'

Ed Arnold, of the Royal United Services Institute think-tank, said: 'We are seeing a lot more Ukrainian military activity and reconnaissance on a larger scale. They need to understand the disposition of Russian forces and to unmask the Russian guns, which have a range of 12-18 miles and have been placed with overlapping arcs to cover as much of the frontline as possible.