Russian and Ukrainian troops have fought battles in the ruins of Pokrovsk, a transport and logistics hub in eastern Ukraine that Russia has been trying to capture for over a year.

Ukraine's military said fierce fighting was underway in a part of the city that was key for its frontline logistics.

It said additional special forces had arrived there, and more weapons and equipment were being sent.

The Russian Defence Ministry said its soldiers had cleared 35 buildings of Ukrainian troops.

It also said that Russian forces were squeezing surrounded Ukrainians near the town of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region, about 160km to the north.

Reuters was unable to verify the battlefield reports from either side.

Ukraine has denied that its troops are encircled in either location.

With peace talks

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