Russia takes two Ukrainian towns as it advances at fastest pace in a year, over 500km2

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Tuesday it had taken two eastern Ukrainian towns and open-source data indicated that Moscow's forces were advancing at their fastest pace in at least a year amid signs the conflict is drawing in new players such as North Korea. The 2-1/2-year-old war in Ukraine is entering what Russian analysts say is its most dangerous phase as Moscow's forces advance, North Korea sends troops to Russia and the West ponders how the conflict will end. Russia said its forces had seized control of the town of Selydove, which had a population of 20,000 before the war and had been under sustained attack over the last week.