Snaps of liberated Ukraine city of Lyman littered with Russian tank shells sum up Putin’s war effort

THE burnt-out shells of Russian tanks litter the liberated Ukraine city of Lyman in pictures which sum up Vladimir Putin’s war effort.

The aftermath of the battle for the Donestsk town was laid bare as Nato vowed to give President Zelensky better defence systems to counter Russian missile strikes which left dozens dead and wounded.

The alliance vowed to ramp up support after US President Biden said he did not think Putin would use nukes despite threats.

Nato’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said air defence was his top priority.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Putin’s wave of revenge attacks had deepened Ukraine’s resolve to win and brought allies closer together.

Speaking at meeting of more than 50 allies he said said Putin’s bloodbath onslaught had been waged “with deep contempt for the rules of war”.

Russia killed at least 19 people, injured 100 more, as it bombarded power and pumping stations across more than 20 cities in the biggest missile attack since the first phase of the war.

Meanwhile, Russia said eight people were arrested over the 12-mile Kerch bridge bombing.

Pro-war Russian hardliners have called for tactical nuclear strikes, which are smaller than doomsday weapons, to obliterate frontline forces .

A senior Nato official said a Russian nuclear strike would almost certainly trigger a “physical response” from Ukraine’s allies “and potentially from NATO itself”.