Ukraine army takes two more eastern cities

A day after government forces captured the key rebel stronghold of Slovyansk, Kyiv says it has taken two more cities in eastern Ukraine from pro-Russian separatists.

The website of President Poroshenko said the Ukrainian flag had been raised in Artemivsk and Druzhkivka.

On Sunday, rebels retreated from Slovyansk later regrouping in Donetsk.

The Ukrainian army’s forward momentum means the separatists have been pushed back across much of the east, though they still largely control the regional capitals of Luhansk and Donetsk, as well as the city of Horlivka.

After withdrawing, rebel fighters reportedly attacked the state prison guard headquarters in Donetsk in a bid to seize weapons.

For now, the only visible signs of a military push by Ukrainian forces in the eastern most province of Luhansk appears to be air strikes.

Kyiv has vowed to ‘‘destroy the separatists’‘ driving them out of their remaining strongholds as quickly as possible.