KYIV — Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said the fighting in Bakhmut had “escalated,” as Russian forces attempt to break through Ukrainian defense lines that have largely held firm for the past six months.

Just west of Bakhmut, shelling and missile strikes hit the Ukrainian-held city of Kostiantynivka. The regional prosecutor's office said eight people were injured and more than a dozen homes were damaged or destroyed in the attacks.

At least four people were reportedly injured and taken to a local hospital. Ukrainian police said Russian forces attacked the town with S-300 missiles and cluster munitions.

Thursday's pre-dawn Russian onslaught was the largest such attack in three weeks with more than 80 Russian missiles and exploding drones.

The barrage, which also damaged residential buildings, killed six people and left hundreds of thousands without heat or running water.

The bombardments on energy infrastructure that gathered pace last autumn have become less frequent.

“The interval between waves of strikes is probably growing because Russia now needs to stockpile a critical mass of newly produced missiles directly from industry,” the UK Ministry of Defense said in an assessment on Friday. — Euronews