Putin meets with military commanders in occupied Ukraine

Russian president meets newly-promoted air service chief

Vladimir Putin meets with commanders in southern Kherson (RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS OFFIC)

Vladimir Putin has met with his military commanders in two occupied areas of Ukraine, while Russian forces up artillery bombardments and air strikes on the devastated city of Bakhmut.

The Kremlin said the Russian president attended a military command meeting in the Kherson region and visited a national guard headquarters in eastern Luhansk on Monday.

Among the military leaders to meet with Mr Putin was air force commander Mikhail Teplinsky - who the British Military of Defence said had likely been given a major role in the war.