Russia advances in east Ukraine, situation becomes tougher: Zelensky

The battle on the front lines in eastern Ukraine "has become tougher" for the Ukrainian soldiers as Russian forces push for gains that they could show on the first anniversary of their invasion on Feb. 24, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a sombre assessment.

Russia, determined to make progress before Ukraine gets newly pledged Western battle tanks and armoured vehicles, has picked up momentum on the battlefield and announced advances north and south of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut in Donetsk.

Bakhmut and 10 towns and villages around it came under Russian fire, the Ukrainian military said late on Wednesday. Bakhmut has suffered persistent Russian bombardment for months.

Avdiivka, another major Russian target, the nearby town of Maryinka and some neighbouring settlements were also hit, the military added.

In Kramatorsk, about 55 km (34 miles) northwest of Bakhmut, a Russian missile destroyed one apartment building and damaged seven on Wednesday, killing at least three people and injuring 20, police said.

"Definite increase has been noted in the offensive operations of the occupiers on the front in the east of our country. The situation has become tougher," Zelensky said.

"The enemy is trying to achieve at least something now to show that Russia has some chances on the anniversary of the invasion," he added in an evening video address.

Zelensky vowed more anti-corruption measures as authorities continued raids ahead of a meeting in Kyiv with more than a dozen top European Union officials on Friday, reflecting a determination to show that Ukraine can be a reliable steward of billions of dollars in aid.

Ukraine sees the meeting as important to its hopes of joining the bloc, which can take years.

Earlier, security officials searched the home of businessman Ihor Kolomoiskiy, a one-time Zelensky ally, in what media said was an investigation of suspected financial crime.

Kolomoiskiy could not immediately be reached for comment. He has denied any wrongdoing.

In Kramatorsk, police said a Russian Iskander-K tactical missile struck at 9:45 p.m. (1945 GMT).

"At least eight apartment buildings were damaged. One of them was completely destroyed," police said in a Facebook post.

"People may remain under the rubble."

At least 44 people were killed in January when a Russian missile hit an apartment building in Dnipro city.