<span style="color: #222222;">Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited Russian-controlled Ukraine's Kherson and Luhansk regions. The Kremlin said that Mr. Putin attended a military command meeting in Kherson and visited a national guard headquarters in Luhansk on Monday.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">According to media reports, the visit comes as Ukrainian troops prepare for a fresh counteroffensive to reclaim the territories. Last month, the Russian President visited Crimea and Mariupol in the Donetsk region which are also under Russian control.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Ukraine's ground forces said that Russian forces are stepping up their use of heavy artillery and air attacks in Bakhmut.</span><br />