Over 5,000 Ukrainian villagers have been urged to flee as Russian forces slowly but steadily advance in the war-ravaged Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

“It is dangerous to stay here! Be responsible! Evacuate!” said regional governor, Vadym Filashkin, on social media after two women were killed by shelling in the streets of Ukrainsk by shelling.

Mr Filashkin has been pleading with residents of frontline villages to leave, but many elderly residents have resisted the calls.

Moscow’s forces are also eying the city of Toretsk, where 700 residents have been evacuated in the last three days under heavy Russian bombardment.

Local officials said Russian glide bombs have also been used in the mining town where 5,000 remain as Russian attacks continue to put stretched Ukrainian frontline units on the defensive.

On Monday, Russia claimed to have captured two more villages on the eastern front, but Ukraine reported heavy fighting close to the settlements.

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