Shift in strategy follows military intelligence which believes Russia is preparing for a campaign against Ukrainian energy infrastructure

Russia "attacked the south of the country again", the Defence Forces of the South of Ukraine said on the messaging platform Telegram.

Russia said Thursday that it had shot down 22 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow-occupied Crimean peninsula and the surrounding Black Sea as well as over the Russian regions of Kursk, Belgorod and Oryol.

Ukrainian armor has broken through Russia’s main defensive line in the southeast for the first time and is making major advances toward the town of Verbove, in a sign the counteroffensive is continuing to pick up pace and could soon reach a breakthrough.

Monday's air strikes were part of a campaign that has made it harder for major grain producer Ukraine to export its products since Moscow quit a deal in mid-July.