Ukraine-Russia war latest: Ukraine hit Russian troops with long-range missiles 'US sent secretly'

We're pausing our live coverage for the evening, but we'll be back tomorrow morning with more updates and analysis.

Russia has vetoed a US-drafted resolution at the UN calling on countries to prevent an arms race in outer space.

Following the vote at the Security Council, the US suggested Russia "must be hiding something", having already accused Moscow of developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon.

Russia has denied the allegations, with its ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, saying:  "It's a joke of a resolution."

US administration officials declined to share details of intelligence to back the allegation.

The UN resolution called on states "to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space".

The final vote tallies were 13 in favour and one abstention (China) before Russia's veto.

Vladimir Putin said earlier this year: "Our position is clear and transparent: We have always been categorically against and are now against the deployment of nuclear weapons in space."

The Ukrainian government has approved rules under which passports for military-age men can be issued only inside the country.

It represents a further tightening of regulations on mobilisation, after foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba criticised those abroad for failing to serve.

The new rules stipulated did not apply to nationals now permitted to cross state borders while martial law is in force, including those with disabilities.

Hundreds of thousands of military-age Ukrainian men are living abroad and the country faces a shortage of troops in the campaign against Russia.

"Staying abroad does not relieve a citizen of his or her duties to the homeland," said Mr Kuleba.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has confirmed our earlier reports that the US sent long-range missiles to Ukraine.

He also confirmed America will send more of the missiles.

Ukraine has lost territory over the last six months due to the need to ration ammunition, he said.

Ukrainian troops were under severe pressure on the battlefield and Russia could make further tactical gains, he warned.

The US can continue to supply Ukraine with aid throughout the year, Mr Sullivan added.

Kyiv will need much more than the $61bn approved by the US today for a fight that could last years, a military expert has said.

The funding will help triage Ukrainian forces, but success is not guaranteed, according to Bradley Bowman, a defence strategy and policy analyst at the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies.

Realistic goals for the months ahead include avoiding the loss of major cities, slowing Russia's momentum and getting additional weaponry to Kyiv that could help them go on the offensive in 2025.

 "In our microwave culture, we tend to want immediate results," Mr Bowman said.

"Sometimes things are just hard and you can't get immediate results. I think Ukrainian success is not guaranteed, but Russian success is if we stop supporting Ukraine." 

Ukrainian drones struck and damaged a major Russian steel factory overnight, a Kyiv intelligence source has told Reuters.

The source said the attack had partially destroyed an "oxygen station" at the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Plant in the Lipetsk region.

This would have a long-term impact on the company's work, the source said.

The news comes after Reuters reported Ukraine had struck two Rosneft-owned oil depots containing 26,000 cubic metres of fuel in the Smolensk region in the same night.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the US for recognising "we must cut the ground from under Putin's feet".

Welcoming the new $61bn in aid, the Ukrainian president said: "Regardless of what anyone says, we are gaining the support we need to continue protecting lives from Russian attacks."

He said the $1bn in military assistance approved to be sent today "include the exact types of weapons that our warriors require".

"I am grateful to president Biden, congress, and all Americans who recognise that we must cut the ground under Putin's feet rather than obeying him, as this is the only way to truly reduce threats to freedom. Together, we can ensure this."

Ukraine fired a US-supplied, long-range ballistic missile at a Russian target last week and overnight, the Associated Press reports.

They cited US officials as saying America secretly sent Army Tactical Missile System missiles in an aid package last month.

They were used to hit a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian troops in another occupied area overnight.

One of the officials said the US is providing more of these missiles in a new military aid package signed by Joe Biden today.

They give Ukraine nearly double the striking distance - up to 190 miles.

For months, the US resisted sending long-range missiles out of concern that Kyiv could use them to hit deep into Russian territory, escalating the conflict.

Separately, the vice chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff has said "the time is right" to provide long-range missiles to Ukraine.

They will help Ukraine take out Russian logistics nodes and troop concentrations that are not on the front lines, he said.

"I think it was a very well considered decision, and we really wrung it out — but again, any time you introduce a new system, any change — into a battlefield, you have to think through the escalatory nature of it."

After signing a bill worth $61bn to Ukraine, Joe Biden has immediately approved sending $1bn in military assistance.

The package includes air defence capabilities, artillery rounds and armoured vehicles.

 "It's not going in the Ukrainians' favour in the Donbas, certainly not elsewhere in the country," said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

"Mr Putin thinks he can play for time. So we've got to try to make up some of that time."

Joe Biden is enjoying a "hard-earned victory lap" after signing a bill sending tens of billions of dollars to Ukraine, says US correspondent James Matthews.

This has been a political triumph in terms of pushing the legislation through congress in the face of "hard-right opposition", he says.

The president positioned himself as the "leader of the indispensable nation, leading a fight for democracy against tyranny".

Matthews adds: "Biden knows that this isn't the end of the story for Ukraine and American aid to Ukraine: there will be other negotiations further down the line.

"He and Ukraine will need to demonstrate there is value in American funds being channelled to that particular fight."

With an eye on the election, Mr Biden is trying to present himself to the public as the deal-maker who gets results.