Ukraine war: Kyiv's army 10 km from Bakhmut, evacuations ordered in south, fighter jet training

The Ukrainian army announced Friday morning it had recaptured Andriivka, a village on the eastern front some ten kilometres from Bakhmut. 

Russian forces suffered "significant" casualties and equipment losses, the Ukrainian General Staff wrote in its daily report.

"During their assault, they [the Ukrainian Armed Forces] liberated Andriivka in the Donetsk region," it said. 

Bakhmut, an old salt mining town that now lies in ruins, has witnessed the longest and deadliest battle of the war so far. 

It was captured in March by Russian forces, with Wagner mercenaries playing a prominent role in the gruesome fighting. 

Always carrying three grenades with himself - two for the enemy and one in case he had to commit suicide to avoid capture - an ex-Wagner solider told Euronews his chilling stories of the battle for Bakhmut. Read more below. 

Ukrainian authorities on Thursday ordered civilians in the Kherson region to evacuate. 

The southern area, partly controlled by Russian forces, is regularly bombed by Moscow's army and has seen fierce fighting during the conflict.  

“The Kherson Regional Defence Council has decided to compulsorily evacuate families with children from areas under constant enemy fire,” Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said on Telegram.

In the Kherson region, Russian troops control areas south of the Dnieper River. They withdrew from Kherson city last year, after a lightning advance by Ukraine. 

Ukrainian authorities in August recommended civilians leave ten areas in the northeastern Kharkiv region, amid a local offensive by Russian forces, though these evacuations were not obligatory.

Governor Prokoudine also indicated Kherson's regional authorities were preparing for "emergency situations" this coming winter regarding