Zelensky: Halting Russian offensive near Kharkiv is 'number one task'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said disrupting the Russian offensive near the north-eastern city of Kharkiv is the army's "number one task" at the moment.

"The accomplishment of this task depends on every soldier, every sergeant, every officer," he said in his daily video address published on Saturday evening.

Russian troops have occupied five Ukrainian border villages north of Kharkiv, the Defense Ministry in Moscow announced on Saturday, largely confirming unofficial Ukrainian reports.