Russia on Sunday claimed its troops had captured a strategically important town in eastern Ukraine, as part of a grinding campaign to weaken Kyiv’s grip on the country’s industrial heartland.

Russia says it shot down more than 120 drones overnight, in what would be one of the largest attacks of the war.

Ukraine is using unmanned aircraft carrying explosive warheads as part of a campaign of long-range drone attacks, aiming to inflict blows on Russia far behind the front line. Kyiv's military granted Reuters exclusive access during the launch of the drones.