Moscow’s forces have gained ground in the Kharkiv region, home to Ukraine’s second largest city, which was also targeted in overnight Russian drone attacks.

The head of the region said Russian forces had shelled the town of Kupiansk, a rail hub that was captured by Russian forces in 2022 and then liberated.

“A 68-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman died as a result of artillery shelling,” governor Oleg Synegubov said.

He added in a social media post that a 77-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man were killed by Russian rockets.

Russia captured swathes of Kharkiv and tried to surround Kharkiv city when it invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine beat back the Kremlin but its forces have been advancing again in the border areas of Kharkiv region again.

Russian forces attacked Ukraine overnight with 62 drones and eleven people were wounded in the southern city of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said.