Russia Ukraine war latest news: Kyiv accuses Moscow of dismembering war prisoner as it destroys Russian submarine

Russian forces captured the village of Novoselivka Persha in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine on Sunday, the Russian defence ministry said, the latest territorial gain in a region Moscow claims as its own. 

Some 140 combat clashes occurred on the frontline in Ukraine in the past day, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Most of the fighting took place in Pokrovsk sector, and Russian troop were also active in Toretsk and Kupiansk.

Ukraine has sunk a Russian submarine and hit a Russian airfield in the past 24 hours, in line with a surge of long-range attacks against Russian targets, officials said.

Russia said Ukrainian drones also hit an apartment building, killing one person.

The uptick in attacks since July come as Ukraine mounts pressure on allies to allow it to use long-range missiles to strike targets in Russia. Western allies, in particular the US, have so far resisted, fearing escalation from Moscow.

Ukraine struck a Russian Kilo-class submarine and an S-400 anti aircraft missile complex in the Moscow-occupied Crimean peninsula, according to a statement from the General Staff on Saturday.

The air defense system was established to protect the Kerch Strait Bridge, an important logistics and transport hub supplying Russian forces.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the country’s air force for their “efficiency and precision” in downing Russian target.

In a statement marking  Ukraine’s Air Force Day, Mr Zelensky said:

“Ukraine will always be grateful to all those who serve our country with dedication every day and protect the lives of our people from Russian terror.

“Today, we express our special gratitude to all the defenders of our skies—to the Ukrainian warriors of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for every downed Russian target, for their efficiency and precision.

“From the very first days of this war, Ukraine has been countering Russian airstrikes. Our warriors have already destroyed thousands of Russian missiles and drones, and hundreds of Russian combat planes and helicopters.

“These are significant results. And we are doing everything to ensure that the Ukrainian Air Force can achieve even more.”

Ukrainian pilots have started flying F-16s for operations within the nation, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, confirming the long-awaited arrival of the US-made fighter jets more than 29 months since Russia’s invasion.

The Ukrainian leader announced the use of F-16s, which Kyiv has long lobbied for, as he met military pilots at an air base flanked by two of the jets with two more flying overhead.

“F-16s are in Ukraine. We did it. I am proud of our guys who are mastering these jets and have already started using them for our country,” Mr Zelensky said.

Russian forces attacked 17 settlements in Kherson, South Ukraine, injuring 15 civilians, including a child, according to regional authorities.

Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson regional military administration, said Russian strikes hit a critical infrastructure facility and Ukraine’s air defense forces shot down one Shahed-131/136 drone.