KYIV: Ukraine claimed on Friday to have retaken swathes of ground near the frontline city of Bakhmut, as Russia reported having repelled an attack along a broad stretch of the front line.

The rival reports from the battlefront indicated an increase in fighting after months of relative stability, as expectations grow over Kyiv`s spring offensive.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, who is spearheading Moscow`s attack on Bakhmut, accused the Russian army of `fleeing` from around the eastern Ukraine city.

The question of when and where Ukraine might launch its high-stakes fightback has been the subject of steady speculation, even after President Volodymr Zelensky insisted this week that his army needed more time to prepare.

The fresh fighting came as China said it would send a special envoy next week to Europe as Beijing pursues efforts to cast itself as peacemaker.

Beijing plans to send its high-ranking diplomat Li Hui to Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany and Russia to `communicate with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis`.-AFP