Soldiers and analysts suggest defending city has become more of a political than practical issue, as Russian push continues

• Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates

Ukrainian soldiers are being pummelled on three sides by Russian forces who are trying to capture Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region that has become the focus of the longest and one of the bloodiest battles since the war began.

Ukraine’s authorities insist they will continue to try to hold the city despite them suffering an estimated 100-200 casualties a day – with some saying the reason is more political and symbolic than practical. Retreating from the city now, after so many soldiers died fighting to keep it, would be a hard reality to face.

Latest barrage reported to include use of hypersonic missiles, of which Moscow is believed to have only a few dozen

• Ukraine war live – latest updates
• See all our Ukraine coverage

Russia has unleashed a missile barrage targeting energy infrastructure across Ukraine, including the use of hypersonic missiles, in the largest such attack in three weeks.

Critical infrastructure and residential buildings in 10 regions had been hit, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said. “The occupiers can only terrorise civilians. That’s all they can do. But it won’t help them. They won’t avoid responsibility for everything they have done.”