Russia-Ukraine news: Fears grow over nuclear plant shelling Latest News by Trigger-G

 Ukrainian and Russian officials are once again trading blame for recent shelling near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, while inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog await permission to access the site.

The UK Ministry of Defense has announced it will provide Ukraine with six underwater drones to help clear its coast of mines and increase the security of grain supplies. The UK will also train dozens of Ukrainian navy personnel to use drones, the ministry says.

In the south, Ukrainian forces are moving forward with a counter-offensive centered around Kherson, the first major city to be captured since the invasion began six months ago, while Russian forces are attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses around the strategic city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donbass region.

Russian forces hit a factory in Ukraine's Zaporozhye region: RIA

The Russian Air Force attacked workshops at the Motor Sich factory in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, where helicopters were being repaired, the Russian state agency RIA quoted the Ministry of Defense as saying.

The Defense Ministry also said Russian forces destroyed a fuel storage facility in Ukraine's Dnieper region that supplied the Ukrainian military in the Donbass region, Interfax reported.

Fighting continues overnight near Zaporizhia nuclear power plant: Ukrainian officials

Fighting near the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant continued overnight, according to local Ukrainian officials.

Heavy overnight gunfire in Nikopol left parts of Nikopol without electricity, said Valentyn Reznichenko, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

The rocket attacks damaged about a dozen residences in Marhanec, according to Yevhen Yevtushenko, head of the administration of the district, which includes the city of about 45,000 people.

The town of Zaporizhia, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) upstream from the nuclear power plant, also came under fire overnight, injuring two people, said city council member Anatoly Kurtev.

Australia's defense minister will strengthen European relations with reference to Ukraine

Australia's defense minister said he intends to deepen defense ties with France, Germany and Britain during visits this week.

The trip, which starts on Monday, will be Richard Marles' first since centre-left Labor won May's general election.

"My visit to Europe comes at a time when the war in Ukraine has shown the importance of increasing cooperation with like-minded partners, both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific," he said.

Britain says it is unclear how Russia will recruit more troops

The UK Ministry of Defense says it is unclear how Russia will achieve the announced large increase in its armed forces, but that the build-up is unlikely to substantially increase its combat power in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last week increasing the number of Russian armed forces to 2.04 million from 1.9 million as the war in Ukraine enters its seventh month.