Pro-Russia separatist leader says fighting 'difficult' in Donetsk region

The Kremlin-backed leader of a separatist republic in eastern Ukraine said Saturday that there was fierce fighting between Russian forces and Ukraine in his breakaway region, as Kyiv announced sweeping gains in a shock counter-offensive.

Denis Pushilin said the situation in the town of Lyman in the Donetsk region was "very difficult" and that there was also fighting in "a number of other localities," particularly in the northern part of the region.