Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of orchestrating the powerful blast that damaged a bridge linking Russia and Crimea, describing the explosion as an "act of terrorism".
Russian divers will examine the damage caused by a powerful blast on Russia's road-and-rail bridge to Crimea that hit a prestigious symbol of Moscow's annexation of the peninsula and a key supply route to forces battling in southern Ukraine.
The latest defeat for Moscow has been marked by the bodies of Russian soldiers lying in the streets of a key eastern Ukrainian city following their comrades' retreat.
Ukrainian forces have achieved their biggest breakthrough in the country's south since the war began, bursting through Russian defences and advancing rapidly along the Dnipro River, threatening supply lines for thousands of Russian troops.
Ukraine has claimed full control of the eastern logistics hub of Lyman, its most significant battlefield gain from Russia in weeks, providing a potential staging post for further attacks to the east while heaping further pressure on the Kremlin.
Australia will impose further financial sanctions and travel bans on almost 30Â Russia-backed separatists and senior officials following Moscow's move to annex swathes of Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian troops are moving to capture the Russian-held eastern town of Lyman, threatening a new setback for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's campaign in the Donbas as he prepares to declare the region part of Russia.
Shelling has hit southern Ukraine, while Russia sought to defend its seven-month war even as it moves to escalate the conflict with the expected annexation of regions in the east and south that its forces have seized.
Russia has launched referendums in four occupied areas of Ukraine expected to be used by Moscow to justify annexation, but Kyiv says the voting is mandatory with residents threatened with punishment if they don't take part.
Russia has paved the way for the formal annexation of swathes of Ukrainian territory, backing referendum plans in areas of Ukraine its soldiers control in a move that could sharply escalate the conflict.
Ukraine says it aims to liberate all of its territory after driving back Russian forces in the northeast of the country in a rapid offensive, but called on the West to speed up deliveries of weapons systems to back the advance.
Ukrainian forces have swept further across territory seized from fleeing Russian troops, as Moscow grapples with the consequences of the collapse of its occupation force in northeastern Ukraine.
World renowned classical pianist Alexey Botvinov is coming to Australia to perform a small number of shows to raise money for his family and friends back in Ukraine. In one of only a couple of public concerts, Botvinov will perform Stand With Ukraine at The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre on Wednesday 21 September.
Operations at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine have been fully stopped as a safety measure, says Energoatom, the state agency in charge of the plant.
