Kursk

Russian drones struck a residential building in the Ukrainian city of Konotop, located in the Sumy region, according to reports from UNIAN. The city's mayor, Artyom Seminykhin, confirmed the attack resulted in fires and injuries. In a later update on Telegram, Seminykhin reported that two individuals had been hospitalized, with one in a coma.

President Vladimir Putin said Monday Kiev's incursion into Russia's Kursk region will not stop Moscow's advance in east Ukraine and vowed to deal with Ukrainian "bandits" there.

Ukraine's surprise August 6 incursion into Russia has displaced around 130,000 people and seen Kiev hold on to parts of the border Kursk region.

Russia said on Sunday that it had thwarted a "massive" Ukrainian drone attack by downing 158 drones across 15 regions, including two over the capital Moscow.

A coal-fired power plant near the city was reported hit, as was an oil refinery within the city boundaries.

Ukraine was fully within its rights to launch its surprise offensive into Russia's Kursk border region as an act of self-defense, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg told German newspaper Die Welt.

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting about the situation in border areas of Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk regions of Russia, at Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside of Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.

Moscow announced that it summoned a senior U.S. diplomat today to complain about what it called “provocative actions” by American journalists in the Kursk region of Russia.

A Ukrainian soldier walks past at a city centre in Sudzha, Kursk region, Russia, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024. This image was approved by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry before publication.(AP photo)

The Kremlin on Monday ruled out entering peace talks with Ukraine over Kiev's surprise offensive into Russian territory, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said was meeting its goals.

Kiev said Friday its incursion into Russian territory had advanced, claiming it aimed to force Russia to negotiate on "fair" terms, as Moscow's troops announced new gains in eastern Ukraine.

Two and a half years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Kiev's troops last week launched a major counter-offensive into Russia's Kursk region, sending more than 120,000 people fleeing.

Ukraine's military has made significant inroads into Russia's Kursk region, with Kyiv establishing a military command office in the occupied area. Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi informed President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video that Ukrainian forces have advanced 35 km into Russian territory since the offensive began last week.

Ukrainian serviceman ride atop a trophy tank after returning from Russia near the Russian-Ukrainian border in Sumy region, Ukraine, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.

Ukraine has claimed fresh advances in its offensive into Russia, saying on Thursday it seized over 1,100 square kilometers in the biggest attack by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II.