Ukraine general says 'fierce' fighting inside Avdiivka

Ukraine said Friday there was fierce fighting in the beleaguered frontline city of Avdiivka and that it was preparing new positions around the industrial hub as Russia steps up attacks.

Ukraine has rushed soldiers to the embattled eastern town of Avdiivka, surrounded on three sides by Russian forces, where the military said the situation was "extremely critical".

The announcement of reinforcements came as a Ukrainian rocket strike on the Russian border city of Belgorod killed at least seven people, officials there said.

Ukraine said four people were killed following a spree of Russian air and missile attacks.

Both sides are escalating aerial attacks as the war nears the end of its second year. Ukraine's position around Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region has grown increasingly precarious.

"The Third Separate Assault Brigade confirms that it was urgently redeployed to strengthen Ukrainian troops in the Avdiivka area," the brigade said in a Telegram post.

It described the situation as "extremely critical," "threatening" and "unstable", adding that Russia was "throwing new forces and resources into the town".

"Avdiivka is at risk of falling into Russian control," U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters in Washington, citing Ukrainian reports.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kiev was sending as much support as possible to troops in the region.

"We are doing everything we can to ensure that our warriors have enough managerial and technological capabilities to save as many Ukrainian lives as possible," Zelensky said during his evening address, after being briefed by military brass.

Russian troops, who have managed to almost encircle the town through a series of bloody...