Ukrainian special operations forces have given an insight into the brutal, near-suicidal tactics of the North Koreans they have faced in intense fighting in the Russian border region of Kursk.

A British man captured fighting on the Ukrainian side in Russia's Kursk region will face terrorism and mercenary charges that could see him jailed for years, Russian state investigators said on Thursday.

Putin has indicated that he will not view any peace agreement with Ukraine as binding, the Institute for the Study of War said.

Ukrainian drones hit an oil refinery 250 miles east of Moscow in a huge wave of attacks on Russian power plants, say military sources. A large fire exploded at the refinery in Kstovo city in the Nizhny Novgorod region following the attack, the Ukrainian military said, adding it was assessing the scale of damage there.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Ukraine could find a legal way to hold peace talks with Russia on ending their nearly three-year-old war, but Moscow sees no willingness on Kyiv's part to engage.

Russia relies on the “Kosovo Precedent” set by Serbia, one that suggests that separatist movements are to be honored, as a way to justify the capture of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Should Ukraine recognize Kosovo now,

Billions of dollars of investment may be needed to rebuild Ukraine's power systems, brought to the brink of total decimation after relentless attacks by Russia.

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to broker a peace deal in Ukraine, but as he prepares to take office, peace seems as elusive as ever

Russian gains in Ukraine have been slowed by personnel shortages, suggesting Moscow may not be able to sustain the war.

Putin’s forces claim capture of strategic town as Zelensky makes Trump appeal - Separate Mechanised Brigade confirms withdrawing strategically from some area to avoid encirclement