The Russian military is intensifying its offensive in Ukraine, with missile attacks on points in the east and south of the country.

The Russian defense ministry announced on Friday that Russian forces attacked railway stations in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine with missiles to destroy Ukrainian military weapons and equipment.

The ministry also said Russian forces destroyed a training center for foreign mercenaries near the southern port city of Odesa.

Britain's defense ministry said on Friday that Russian forces continued shelling of cities in the east and south. It said Russian troops advanced farther south from the strategically important city of Izyum after placing it under their control.

The ministry said it expects some of the Russian forces that had pulled out from around the capital Kyiv will be transferred to the eastern region. It also said, "Many of these forces will require significant replenishment before being ready to deploy further east, with any mass redeployment from the north likely to take at least a week minimum."