Ukraine war: Both sides suffering heavy losses, Russia-Iran trade pact, Moscow blocking aid

The Ukrainian army said on Monday it had recaptured Pyatykhatky, a village in the south. 

A total of eight localities have been liberated from Russian forces since Ukraine's counteroffensive began in June, Deputy Defense Minister Ganna Maliar said on social media.

She added 113 square kilometres had been "liberated".

Euronews cannot independently verify these claims. 

Russia and Ukraine are experiencing high casualties as Kyiv attempts to dislodge Moscow from occupied areas in its counteroffensive, British officials said on Sunday. 

Russian losses are probably at their highest level since the peak of the battle for Bakhmut in March, the UK Ministry of Defence said in its daily assessment. 

The most intense fighting was centred on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia province and Bakhmut in the east, according to British intelligence. 

While the update reported Ukraine had “made small advances” in these areas, it said Russian troops were conducting “relatively effective defensive operations”. 

A free trade zone agreement between Iran, Russia and several Eurasian countries is possible by the end of the year, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Monday.

Talks between the Eurasian Economic Union - comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Iran - are in their final stages, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk was quoted as saying by the state-owned media outlet. 

Both Iran and the wider region have taken on extra significance for the Kremlin after Western sanctions over the Ukraine invasion limited its trade, forcing it to look for markets outside of Europe. 

However, despite tighter ties between Moscow and Tehran - centred on large purchases of Iranian-made drones to attack Ukraine - their trade has grown only