Ukraine news LIVE: Vladimir Putin branded a ‘COWARD’ as despot orders power grid attacks after forces take heavy losses

VLADIMIR PUTIN has suffered a major blow as the Russian Ministry of Defence have confirmed that troops were forced to “regroup” following Ukraine’s recent advances. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the retreat of Russian forces from both Izyum and Balakliya on Saturday. In a statement published by state media outlet RIA Novosti the Ministry said: “It was decided to regroup the Russian troops stationed in the Balakleya and Izyum regions to step up efforts in the Donetsk direction.” It comes as, Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that there has been a “total blackout” in Kharkiv and Donetsk. The blackout has been caused by Russian “terrorists” that have attacked “critical infrastructure” in an attempt to “deprive people of light & heat”. Read our Ukraine-Russia blog below for the latest updates…