A 'tense' situation: Russia's top Ukraine commander

STORY: "The enemy continually attempts to attack the positions of Russian troops," he told the state-owned Rossiya 24 television news channel in an interview.

"First of all, this concerns the Kupiansk, Lyman and Mykolayiv-Kriviy Rih sectors."

On Kherson, Surovikin said: "The situation in this area is difficult. The enemy is deliberately striking infrastructure and residential buildings."

One of the most senior Russian-appointed officials in occupied Ukraine has said the Ukrainian army is poised to begin an attempt to retake the southern city of Kherson and is urging residents to evacuate for their safety.

The city is on territory which President Vladimir Putin says is now formally incorporated into Russia, a move Ukraine and the West do not recognize.