Russia struck over 90 military targets in Ukraine overnight, killing at least 500 Ukrainian soldiers and destroying dozens of armoured vehicles, artillery and other military equipment, the defence ministry said.
Russia also said it struck two ammunition depots in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region.
Meanwhile, the Russian-backed separatist leader of the Ukrainian breakaway region of Donetsk urged Moscow on Tuesday to launch the next stage of its military campaign in Ukraine after reaching the region's frontiers.
Denis Pushilin, the leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, said on a Russian talk show broadcast online that the next phase of Russia's military intervention was crucial following security incidents outside the region.
He cited blasts that hit the Moldovan breakaway region of Transdniestria bordering Ukraine on Monday, as well as Russian allegations of shelling of its border regions by Ukrainian forces.
"The pace at which the (military) operation reaches our borders is important to us in order to launch its next phase, which is needed after what we witnessed in Transdniestria and Russia's border regions," RIA news agency quoted Pushilin as saying.
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Main story: The New Arab Staff & Agencies