Russia gathering its forces to storm settlements near Sievierodonetsk, says Ukraine – as it happened

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In the weeks after the Russian invasion, the Guardian spoke to five Ukrainian families who had fled the country. Nearly four months on from the invasion, the families talk about the realities of their new lives.

Back in March, Liudmyla Abdo was fresh out of a war zone. Fatigued, dazed and suffering from acute stress, she sat in Paris's Buttes-Chaumont park and recounted her experience of fleeing Kyiv in the dead of night.

Russian ground and tactical air operations have remained focussed on the central Donbas sector over the weekend.

In the conflict to date, Russia's air force has underperformed. Its failure to consistently deliver air power is likely one of the most important factors behind Russia's very limited campaign success.

It cannot gain full air superiority and has operated in a risk-adverse style, rarely penetrating deep behind Ukrainian lines. Some of the underlying causes of its difficulties echo those of Russian ground forces.