The Russian military on Sunday reported a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to carry nuclear warheads from a new nuclear submarine.

The report comes as tensions are soaring between Russia and the West over the fighting in Ukraine. Adding to those tensions, President Vladimir Putin last week signed a bill revoking Russia’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban in a move that Moscow said was needed to establish parity with the United States.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the Imperator Alexander III strategic missile cruiser fired the Bulava missile from an underwater position in Russia's northern White Sea, and hit a target in the far-eastern region of Kamchatka. It wasn't immediately clear from the statement when the test launch occurred.

The Imperator Alexander III is one of the new Borei-class nuclear submarines that carry 16 Bulava missiles each and are intended to serve as the core naval component of the nation’s nuclear forces in the coming decades. According to the Defense Ministry, launching a ballistic missile is the final test for the vessel, after which a decision should be made on its induction into the fleet.

The Russian navy currently has three Borei-class submarines in service, one more is finishing tests and three others are under construction, the Defense Ministry said.

Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin sees 200 armoured vehicles wiped out in Donbas battles.

About 200 Russian armoured vehicles have been wiped out by Ukraine during battles in a Donbas town, Britain’s Ministry of Defence has said.

The MoD said the vehicles had been destroyed over the past three weeks in the town of Avdiivka.

This was “likely due to a combination of relative effectiveness of Ukraine’s modern hand-held anti-armour weapons, mines, uncrewed aerial vehicle-dropped munitions, and precision artillery systems.”

Elsewhere, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenksy has said the war between Israel and Hamas is “taking away the focus” from the conflict in Ukraine.

Mr Zelensky said that Russia wanted focus on the war to be “weakened” but insisted that winning was still within Ukraine’s power amid its counteroffensive in the south, insisting the war had not reached a stalemate.

“Everyone is getting tired and there are different opinions,” Mr Zelensky said in a press conference following talks with EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. “But this is not a stalemate.”

Key Points

• Putin sees 200 armoured vehicles wiped out in Donbas battles

• Zelensky denies war has reached stalemate

• EU will stand behind Ukraine for ‘as long as it takes’ - von der Leyen

• Putin’s assault on Donas town ‘flounders'

• Russian forces hit civilian targets near Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials say

• Ukraine suffers most intense bombardment of shelling in a single day this year

Explosions reported in southern Ukraine

22:11 , Tom Watling

Explosions are heard in Kherson, Sospilny correspondents report.

Ukrainian war veterans with amputated limbs find freedom in the practice of jiu-jitsu

21:40 , Tom Watling

Nervous ahead of their first jiu-jitsu championship, the war veterans gathered in a group to share jokes and help each other tie the belts of their kimonos. Many of them had suffered severe battlefield injuries requiring amputations.

Now they were assembled to perform in the “para jiu jitsu” category at the Ukrainian national competition before hundreds of spectators on amphitheater-style benches in one of Kyiv’s sports complexes.

More than 20,000 people in Ukraine have lost limbs because of injuries since the start of Russia’s brutal war there, many of them soldiers. A handful of them have dealt with their psychological trauma by practicing a form of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

“This gives us freedom. We don’t feel like we’re lacking anything,” said Artem Kuzmich, who started practicing jiu-jitsu classes after losing a leg on the battlefield in 2019.

Ukrainian war veterans with amputated limbs find freedom in the practice of jiu-jitsu

Moldova holds local elections amid Russian meddling allegations

21:10 , Tom Watling

Moldovans elected mayors of villages, towns and cities on Sunday after pro-European President Maia Sandu accused Moscow of meddling in the votes in Ukraine’s western neighbour and a pro-Russian party was barred from the race.

This is the last national vote before presidential elections in November 2024, as the ex-Soviet state tries to advance its bid to join the European Union and leave Russia’s orbit.

Ms Sandu has denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of plotting to oust her in a coup.

This week, she accused Russia of "buying" voters by funnelling $5 million over two months to “criminal groups” led by fugitive businessman Ilan Shor.

Trump’s shadow looms large over Congress battle that could define Ukraine war

20:30 , Tom Watling

The timing could not be worse. Just as Ukraine is fighting to repel one of the fiercest Russian onslaughts since the war began, so fears emerge that US support to Kyiv could be severely undermined by Republicans loyal to the former president, says Askold Krushelnycky