Russian forces have retaken 63.2% of the territory captured by Ukraine in the Kursk region of western Russia, the Russian defence ministry said on Friday.

Russian state news agency TASS said Moscow’s forces had seized eastern Ukraine’s Vovkove village, just 10km (6.2 miles) southwest of Pokrovsk city, a key supply hub for Kyiv’s troops. Moscow’s army also captured Shevchenko earlier,

Strengthening the armed forces and constant surveillance are the main ways to stop adversaries from damaging undersea cables.

The Russian Defence Ministry has claimed an attack by drones on Russian territory, temporarily occupied Crimea and the waters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, stating that 45 drones have been allegedly downed.

Oleksandr Syrskyi credited Ukraine's attacks on "industrial enterprises" that manufacture ammo, missile parts, and other weapons deep inside Russia.

Russia’s military on Tuesday said it would retaliate against Ukraine after Kyiv attacked Russian regions by firing six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles, six UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles and launching one of the biggest drone attacks to date.

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged 25 prisoners of war each after negotiations mediated by the United Arab Emirates, according to statements from both sides.

Russian forces took control of two more settlements in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday, the latest in a series of gains it has reported in its steady advance westward.

Russia on Monday said it had shot down 31 Ukrainian drones which mainly targeted industrial sites. Both Kyiv and Moscow have been trying to secure the upper hand in the conflict ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday. Trump has said he wants to end the Ukraine war soon.

Russia launched 39 Shahed drones, other simulator drones and four ballistic missiles according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Ukrainian air defense forces shot down two missiles and 24 drones. A further 14 drone simulators were lost in location, the statement said.

Flows of gas via the Turkstream pipeline unaffected after air defences downed the drones, defence ministry in Moscow says