Ukraine cities pounded, Kyiv plays down fallout from leak of US documents

An armoured military vehicle speeds through Chasiv Yar during heavy fighting at the fronttline of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, April 9, 2023. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

KYIV (Reuters) -Russian forces pounded frontline cities in eastern Ukraine with air strikes and artillery attacks, while Kyiv played down a report that it is amending some plans for a counter-offensive due to a leak of classified U.S. intelligence documents.

The Russians were using "scorched earth" tactics on Bakhmut, a top Ukrainian military commander said on Monday, as the Ukrainian city in the eastern Donetsk region and other cities and towns came under heavy bombardment.