Ukraine is “adeptly exploiting” Russian forces’ “lack of manoeuvre” and inflicting heavy losses, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.

In its latest intelligence update, it also said Moscow is struggling to overcome “challenges” imposed by Ukraine’s terrain.

Russian troops have remained largely on the road network and have “demonstrated a reluctance to conduct off-road manoeuvre”, the MOD added.

The destruction of bridges by Ukrainian forces has also played a “key role in stalling Russia’s advance”.

The MOD continued: “Russia’s continued failure to gain control of the air has drastically limited their ability to effectively use air manoeuvre, further limiting their options.

“The tactics of the Ukrainian armed forces have adeptly exploited Russia’s lack of manoeuvre, frustrating the Russian advance and inflicting heavy losses on the invading forces.”

Russian assaults, however, continued on Wednesday morning. A plume of smoke was seen rising into the sky after an artillery shell rammed into an apartment block in the centre of Kyiv, obliterating the top floor and starting a fire.

Two people were hurt, according to early reports.

In addition, social media footage shows two high-rise buildings in the capital’s Schevchenkivskyi district being shelled on Tuesday morning.

Loud booms are heard and smoke rises into the air as the airstrikes hit. Sky News has verified the video and located it.

Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said Russian forces were shooting from a hospital in Mariupol and threatening the operation of a humanitarian corridor.

They added that 400 civilians, patients and medical staff were inside the building.

Ukraine’s prosecutor general has said that 103 children have now been killed since the invasion began.

Russian forces have struck more than 400 educational establishments and 59 of them have been destroyed, Iryna Venediktova said on Facebook.

Two high-rise buildings located in the Schevchenkivskyi District of Kyiv hit by shelling this morning. pic.twitter.com/TGVlpLyQRe

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