Ukraine forces push through to Russia border near Kharkiv: Report

On the battlefields near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, interior ministry adviser Vadym Denisenko said Ukrainian troops were mounting a counter-offensive

Ukrainian troops have pushed Russian forces back from the northeastern city of Kharkiv and some have advanced as far as the border with Russia, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.

The developments, if confirmed, would signal a further shift in momentum in favour of Ukraine nearly three months into a conflict that began when Russia sent tens of thousands of troops over the border into Ukraine on February 24.

Sweden meanwhile was expected to take a formal decision on Monday to apply to join Nato following a similar move by Finland - a change in the Nordic countries’ long-standing policy of neutrality brought