Punjabi: Russia and Ukraine War Like Situation

[Dalvinder Singh Grewal]

Russia tried to assassinate CEO of German arms manufacturer for sending weapons to Ukraine. The plot to kill Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger was one of a series of Russian government plans to assassinate defense industry executives across Europe who were supporting Ukraine’s war effort, according to CNN​

$ 225 million aid announced by Biden for Ukraine. F 16 are also going to reach Ukraine soon. Advanced missiles deployed by US in Germany to target Russia

 

[dalvinder45]

A shooter who allegedly attacked former United States president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump during his election rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday was shot dead by the Secret Service, law enforcement officials said.

The US Secret Service said at about 6.15 pm, a suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue, in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The federal agency personnel immediately escorted the former president out and took him to a safer location.

Trump, 78, is reported to be safe after the assassination attempt.

"He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility," Steven Cheung, Trump spokesperson said in a statement.

The attack was condemned by leaders cutting across party lines.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former presidents, Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton have condemned the attack.

"US Secret Service personnel neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased. The federal agency quickly responded with protective measures and Former President Trump is safe," Anthony Guglielmi, Secret Service spokesperson said in a statement.

"This is now an active Secret Service investigation and further information will be released when available," he said.

Blood was seen on Trump's face and ear as he reached with his right hand toward his neck. Multiple media reports said that several gunshots were heard while Trump was addressing the rally.

Trump was seen pumping his fist in the air, with the crowd cheering, as he was escorted out by the Secret Service.

Guglielmi said, "One spectator was killed, and two others were critically injured. The Secret Service has notified the FBI."

An eyewitness told the BBC he saw a "man on top of a roof" near President Trump's Pennsylvania rally.

"We noticed the guy crawling up the roof of the building beside us, 50 feet away from us," the witness, Greg, said.

"He had a rifle, we could clearly see him with a rifle. Next thing you know, I'm thinking to myself why is Trump still speaking? Why have they not pulled him off the stage? I'm standing there pointing at him... the next thing you know, five shots ring out," he said.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have been briefed about the incident, which is receiving widespread condemnation from a shocked nation.

Biden condemned the life-threatening attack on his Republican rival and predecessor Donald Trump and said 'there is no place for this kind of violence in America'.

"Jill and I are grateful to the Secret Service for getting him to safety. There's no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it," he said.

Incumbent Biden faces Trump in the November presidential elections.

Vice President Kamala Harris said she has been briefed on the shooting at former president Trump's event in Pennsylvania.

"Doug and I are relieved that he is not seriously injured. We are praying for him, his family, and all those who have been injured and impacted by this senseless shooting. We are grateful to the United States Secret Service, first responders, and local authorities for their immediate action," she said.

"Violence such as this has no place in our nation. We must all condemn this abhorrent act and do our part to ensure that it does not lead to more violence," Harris said.

"I am horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe. Political violence has no place in our country," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

"This should horrify every freedom-loving American. Violence against presidential candidates must never be normalised. We are lifting up Donald Trump, the entire Trump family, and all in attendance in prayer," former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said.

Tesla CEO and the owner of social media platform X, Elon Musk said that he endorses Trump.

"Fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," Musk said.

"Pray for Trump," said Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy, and a close confidant of Trump. -- PTI

 

[dalvinder45]

Former United States president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on Saturday said he was shot at during his rally in Pennsylvania and a bullet pierced the upper part of his right ear.

IMAGE: Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump is assisted by security personnel after gunfire rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, in this screen grab taken from a video. Photograph: Reuters TV/Reuters
In his first statement issued on the social media platform Truth Social, 78-year-old Trump thanked the US Secret Service for saving his life.

'I want to thank the United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response to the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania,' the former president said.

Trump got injured during his election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania following an apparent series of gunshots. He was immediately escorted out of the venue by the US Secret Service.

'Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured. It is incredible that such an act can take place in our country,' he said.

According to Anthony Guglielmi, spokesperson of the US Secret Service, the incident happened around 6.15 pm local time when the suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue.

'US Secret Service personnel neutralised the shooter, who is now deceased. The US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and Former President Trump is safe. One spectator was killed, and two spectators were critically injured,' he said, adding that this incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Trump said nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead.

'I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realised then what was happening. God bless America!' Trump said.

Thousands of Trump supporters were attending the rally when the shooting, which was captured live on news channels, happened.

As the bullet hit his ears, the former president was seen ducking with the secret service surrounding him. He could be heard making a few comments on an audio feed from the stage.

Trump said, 'Let me get my shoes,' as he was escorted to the safe place. He was seen pumping his fist to the public.

The shocking incident happened two days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Trump will formally become the party's nominee.

According to The Wall Street Journal, eyewitness Colleen Phillips, 62. said she was about eight rows from the stage when she heard the sounds of gunfire.
"We had a little prayer circle for President Trump," Phillips said. "I don't know what's wrong with people."

Another eyewitness Mark McEvoy, 50, said he thought he heard eight to 10 shots.

"I saw Trump go down, but then I saw him get up and he raised his hand that he was OK," McEvoy told the Financial Daily.

 

[dalvinder45]

A mother and her daughter were killed by Russian shelling that hit the town of Nikopol in Ukraine’s eastern Dnipropetrovsk region. Local governor Serhiy Lysak said private houses, a fire station, a college, a school and buses were damaged. Nikopol sits on the right bank of the Dnipro River

Two people were injured by debris as Ukraine repelled a Russian drone attack on the region outside Kyiv. One of those hurt was Ilya Ponomaryov, a former Russian lawmaker who has lived in Ukraine for years and is a critic of the Kremlin. He wrote on Facebook that a drone exploded outside his front door, inflicting shrapnel wounds and causing a fire.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and a number of prominent Russian Politician and activists who were jailed for criticizing the war in Ukraine were among 26 people freed in the biggest prisoner swap between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Russia got back Vadim Krasikov, a Russian jailed in Germany for the assassination of a former Chechen rebel commander in 2019.
Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, awarded two Ukrainian athletes – rower Anastasiia Kozhenkova and diver Oleksii Sereda – with the Grand Vermeil Medal, the French capital’s highest distinction, in a show of solidarity.

The Kremlin said that Russian forces would shoot down US-built F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine, and claimed the aircraft would have no significant impact on the course of the war. The first planes arrived in Ukraine this week.

 

[dalvinder45]

Ukraine’s military says it attacked overnight Russia’s Morozovsk airfield and a number of oil depots and fuel storage facilities in the Russian regions of Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov.
The Ukrainian Air Force says it shot down 24 out of 29 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched by Russia during the night. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russian forces used more than 600 guided aerial bombs to attack Ukraine in the past week.

The Russian Ministry of Defence says its military destroyed at least 76 drones launched by Ukraine, including 36 over the border region of Rostov and 17 in the Oryol region, adding that it disabled eight and nine drones respectively over the regions of Kursk and Belgorod. Russian forces have retched up pressure on the eastern town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region where the Ukrainian military has acknowledged an increasingly difficult situation, The Kyiv Independent reports.

 

[dalvinder45]

 

[dalvinder45]

Ukraine says it received 250 bodies of killed soldiers in one of the largest exchanges of remains since the start of the war, according to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War. Ukrainian national news agency Ukrinform quoted a Chinese official as saying that more than 110 countries support a peace settlement outlined by Beijing.

Russian activist Ilya Yashin, who was freed on Friday in a major prisoner swap between Russia and Western countries has said he never gave his consent for being deported from Russia, warning that the move could encourage Russian authorities to take more political prisoners.
According to the Interfax news agency, the National Bank of Ukraine estimates that about 400,000 people would leave Ukraine this year and 300,000 the following one, an increase compared to previous predictions.

 

[dalvinder45]

Ukraine adds another Turkish corvette to its navy for the war with Russia​

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, people react during the launching ceremony of the Ukrainian Navy’s Ada class corvette “Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi” in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. This vessel was constructed for the Ukrainian Navy at a shipyard in Turkey. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, center, participates in the launching ceremony of the Ada class corvette “Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi” in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. This vessel was constructed for the Ukrainian Navy at a shipyard in Turkey. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)
Ukraine has taken delivery of a second Turkish-built navy corvette, officials said Friday, although they did not say specifically how the warships might be used in the war against Russia.

Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, attended the launching ceremony of the Ada-class corvette during a visit to Turkey, the Ukrainian presidency announced on its website.
The corvette Ukraine already had is currently undergoing sea trials.
Turkish Ada-class ships are typically able to strike planes, other ships and submarines.
Ukraine, which has coastlines on the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov, had a small navy at the time of Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion.
But it has developed deadly pilotless sea drones that have severely limited Moscow’s Black Sea naval capability.
The Ukrainian presidency said the corvettes would help protect the country’s interests in the Black and Azov seas “but also, in particular, in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.”

 

[dalvinder45]

Ukrainian pilots have started flying F-16s for operations within the nation, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, confirming the long-awaited arrival of the US-made fighter jets more than 29 months since Russia's invasion.​

The Ukrainian leader announced the use of F-16s, which Kyiv has long lobbied for, as he met military pilots at an air base flanked by two of the jets with two more flying overhead.
"F-16s are in Ukraine. We did it. I am proud of our guys who are mastering these jets and have already started using them for our country," Mr Zelensky said.

 

[dalvinder45]

Ukraine says it struck Russia’s Morozovsk airfield Ukraine accuses Russia of dismembering war prisoner
Kyiv targets occupied Crimea with ‘massive’ strike Ukraine launched more drone attacks than Russia in July

 

[dalvinder45]

Russia sent multiple missiles and drones at Kyiv as air raid warnings sounded in the capital from about 11pm (20:00 GMT). “Air defence forces and equipment operated in the capital and on the outskirts of the city. According to preliminary data, enemy missiles were hit,” Serhiy Popko, the head of the city’s military administration, said on social media. “As of now, no damage or casualties have been recorded in Kyiv.”
Ukraine’s Air Force chief said the military shot down all 24 Russian drones launched at targets across Ukraine. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
One person was killed and three more were injured after a drone struck a bus for an agricultural enterprise in the village of Vyazovoe in Russia’s Belgorod region, according to local Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
Ukraine said it conducted an exchange of soldiers’ bodies with Russia in a deal mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Kyiv handed over the remains of 38 Russian soldiers while Ukraine received the bodies of 250 of their servicemen on August 2.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian told Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s security council and a former defence minister, that Tehran was determined to expand relations with its “strategic partner Russia”, according to Iranian state media. Russia has cultivated closer political and military ties with Iran since starting its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and has said it is preparing to sign a wide-ranging cooperation agreement with the country. The Reuters news agency reported in February that Iran had provided Russia with a large number of powerful surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.
Ukraine denied any involvement in northern Mali fighting last month that led to the deaths of Malian soldiers and mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group. Mali cut diplomatic ties with Ukraine after a senior official from Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said the rebels behind the attack had all the “information” they needed. Kyiv expressed regret over the decision and stressed its commitment to the “norms of international law, the inviolability of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries”.
Pavel Kushnir, a 39-year-old Russian pianist and antiwar activist, died in prison after going on hunger strike, his mother said. A Telegram channel with links to Russia’s security services reported in May that Kushnir had been arrested and accused of inciting “terrorist” activity after posting antiwar material online. The European Union called Kushnir’s death a shocking case of political repression.
Ukraine’s newly-crowned Olympic high jump champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh urged Russian athletes to speak up against the invasion, saying she was disappointed they remained silent in Paris where a small squad of about 15 athletes is competing as “neutrals”. Athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus were banned from world sport following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

 

[dalvinder45]

Russia and Ukraine attack each other's territories heavily with drones. In a surprising shift in strategy, Ukrainian forces launched attacks. to Russian territory this week, catching Moscow off guard and opening a new front in the prolonged conflict Ukrainian soldiers have entered western Russia in a move that has bewildered Moscow, successfully tested its weak border defences and may deal a blow to its natural gas supplies to Europe. Kyiv dispatched hundreds of servicemen backed by armoured vehicles, artillery and drones to the Kursk region on Tuesday, according to Russian officials, Ukrainian servicemen and media reports. The raid follows several incursions by Russian nationalsfighting for Ukraine who briefly raided Kursk and neighbouring Belgorod in 2023 and heavy Ukrainian shelling of Belegorod this year. On Tuesday morning, Ukrainian forces fought through the border and approached Sudzha, a sleepy town of 5,000 people whose central square is still dominated by a statue of Soviet Union founder Vladimir Lenin. But Sudzha is important as the location of the only pumping station that delivers Russian natural gas to Europe via Ukraine.​

By Wednesday afternoon, Ukrainians surrounded Sudzha, seized three villages and were spotted near 10 more, Russian officials and media reported. “In the past 24 hours, our region has been heroically countering the attacks of Ukrainian Nazis,” Kursk acting Governor Aleksey Smirnov wrote on Telegram on Wednesday, repeating the Kremlin’s narratives about the “Nazi junta” in Kyiv.
At least three civilians – two drivers and a woman – have been killed, and 24 have been wounded, including six children, according to Smirnov and health officials. The governor urged locals to donate blood for the wounded and said “the situation is controllable”. But even the dry, legalese tone of the Kremlin’s statements cannot hide the gravity of the situation.
President Vladimir Putin called the raid a “full-scale provocation by the Kyiv regime” and accused Ukrainian servicemen of indiscriminately firing at residential areas and civilians.
The Ministry of Defence in Moscow claimed on Wednesday that Ukrainians lost up to 260 servicemen, seven tanks and 42 armoured vehicles, two air defence vehicles and a radio jamming station. “The operation to annihilate Ukrainian military formations is ongoing,” it said. Officials in Kyiv have not commented on the attack, but Ukrainian reports claim heavy losses on the Russian side.

Ukrainian forces killed a group of Russian servicemen holed up in a walled Orthodox monastery, shot down a Ka-52 helicopter and destroyed two tanks, Deep State, a Ukrainian Telegram channel known for verified reports, wrote on Wednesday.

 

[dalvinder45]

Ukraine and Russia need to engage with each other to find a solution to the ongoing conflict between them, India said on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv under the shadow of the raging war.

IMAGE: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a meeting, in Kyiv, on August 23, 2024. Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via Reuters
In the discussions, Modi reiterated the need for 'practical engagement' between all stakeholders to develop an innovative solution that will help build broad acceptability and contribute towards peace and stability in the region.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the prime minister conveyed to Zelenskyy India's willingness to contribute in 'all possible ways' to facilitate an early return of peace to Ukraine.

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Earlier Modi met Putin and held discussions with him about the conflict​

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It was a very detailed, open and in many ways constructive discussion, he said, adding the talks revolved around to some extent the military situation, on concerns like food and energy security, and on 'conceivable pathways to peace'. The Ukrainian side wanted continued involvement of India with the Global Peace summit, he said.
Jaishankar said there was also a discussion on what could be effective ways of taking the discussions forward. "It is India's view that the two sides (Ukraine and Russia) need to engage with each other to find a solution," he said.
The external affairs minister said the two leaders reiterated their readiness to continue cooperation to uphold principles of international law such as respect for territorial integrity and protect the sovereignty of states. Modi also spoke about his discussions recently with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Jaishankar said the prime minister sought the president's assessment both of the ground situation as well as the diplomatic scenario and Zelenskyy spoke on both issues.
The external affairs minister described Modi's visit to Kyiv as a 'landmark' trip.
The prime minister arrived in Kyiv on a special train on Friday morning and he was received by the first deputy prime minister of Ukraine
Jaishankar said a significant part of discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy was devoted to the bilateral relations. There were discussions on trade, economic issues, defence, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, education, he said. Modi and Zelenskyy also tasked the India-Ukraine inter-governmental commission to specifically focus on rebuilding trade and economic relations. PTI MPB

 

[dalvinder45]

One thousand days of Russia-Ukraine war — a timeline marked by destruction, resilience, and the unwavering strength of the human spirit. What began as a geopolitical conflict between Russia and Ukraine has evolved into an unrelenting war that has affected every facet of life. It has reshaped cities, torn apart families, and altered countless futures.
This photo essay captures the essence of that ongoing struggle. It unveils the skeletal remains of once-thriving towns, the quiet determination of those who remain despite the risks, and the enduring hope of those who still dream of peace.

A woman carries her cat as she walks past buildings that were destroyed by Russian shelling, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Borodyanka, in the Kyiv region, Ukraine. (Reuters)

Each image tells a story—of survival amidst constant shelling, of sorrow in the face of irreparable loss, and of a spirit that refuses to be broken. From makeshift classrooms where children cling to normalcy, to silent vigils in damaged churches, and frontline fighters finding humanity in the midst of chaos, these photographs form a vivid mosaic of life under the shadow of war.

Ukrainian service members fire a shell from a M777 Howitzer at a front line, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kharkiv Region, Ukraine. (Reuters)

People visit the Wall of Remembrance to pay tribute to killed Ukrainian servicemen during a commemorative ceremony to mark the Volunteer Day honouring fighters, who joined the Ukrainian armed forces, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Reuters)

Ukrainian serviceman says goodbye to his wife who was visiting him during a short break from his frontline duty, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, at the train station in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. (Reuters)
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/sto...m_medium=mustread&utm_campaign=recommendation
As the conflict stretches into its thousandth day, it is no longer just about territories or political disputes. It has become a reflection of what it means to endure, to hope, and to rebuild. These images stand as a tribute to those who have lost so much, yet continue to hold on to something even greater—the strength to survive and the courage to believe in a better future.

Graves of Ukrainian soldiers who died since Russia launched its full-scale invasion are seen at Lychakiv cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine. (AP)

Ukrainian serviceman, Vasyl, who had three limbs amputated after fighting at the frontline, exercises at Halychyna rehabilitation center in Lviv, Ukraine. (AP)
Around a fifth of Ukraine's internationally recognized territory is currently under Russian control, reports AP. These shifting boundaries are in constant flux, and the closer someone is to them, the greater the danger to their life.

Members of the honour guard carry the coffin of Yurii Moiseev, a Ukrainian soldier of the 44th Battalion who was killed during fighting with Russian forces in Terny on Nov. 28, 2023, during the funeral ceremony in Brovary, Kyiv region, Ukraine. (AP)

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An aerial view of Chasiv Yar shows the frontline city in ruins after heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces for over a year, Donetsk Region, Ukraine. (AP)
In the no-man's-land between Russian and Ukrainian forces lies the Gray Zone, a desolate expanse where life barely survives. Ashen homes, scorched trees, and cratered earth-scars of over 1,000 days of war-stretch endlessly.

A woman kisses her newborn baby at maternity hospital No.7 in Odesa, Ukraine. (AP)

Newlyweds visit an exhibition displaying destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk as part of the upcoming celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine, amid Russia's invasion, in central Kyiv, Ukraine. (Reuters)

Children study in an underground school in Liubotyn, Kharkiv region, Ukraine. (AP)
On February 24, 2022, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, expanding their aggression beyond the Donbas region in an effort to seize control of the entire country.

 

[dalvinder45]

On the 1,005th day of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Russia’s air defence systems destroyed seven Ukrainian missiles overnight over the Kursk region, Kursk regional governor Alexei Smirnov wrote on his Telegram channel.
Falling debris from destroyed Ukrainian drones sparked a fire at an industrial facility in Russia’s Kaluga, according to regional governor Vladislav Shapsha. He said there were no injuries and that three drones were destroyed. Russian forces captured a British mercenary, who identified himself as James Scott Rhys, who is fighting with the Ukrainian army in Russia’s Kursk region, a security source told Russia’s RIA Novosti state news agency.
Air defences were in operation in Kyiv in response to a new Russian drone attack, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram. Ukraine’s air defences had earlier downed 50 of 73 Russian drones launched on various targets, the Ukrainian military said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on its Western partners to concentrate their efforts on helping provide an air defence system to protect people.
Russia will soon name Alexander Darchiev, currently head of the Foreign Ministry’s North American department, as its new ambassador to Washington, the Kommersant newspaper reported.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has slammed the “renewed threat” of antipersonnel landmines, days after the US said it would supply the weapons to Ukrainian forces battling Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine has shown journalists fragments of the Russian missile used to strike the city of Dnipro last week, after Moscow said it had tested its new Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate range ballistic missile
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that allows those who sign up to fight in Ukraine to write off unpaid debts worth almost $100,000, the government announced.

 

[dalvinder45]

BBC
Fighting has raged in Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Russian forces have slowly expanded the amount of territory they control over the last year, mostly in the east of Ukraine, but Ukrainian forces have made those advances as slow and difficult as possible and even staged a counter-offensive into Russian territory.
Here is a recap of recent significant events and the situation in Ukraine.

Expanded capabilities​

In November, Ukraine reported its troops had engaged in combat with North Korean troops in the Kursk region of Russia.
Moscow and Pyongyang have not responded to the claim that North Korean soldiers have been under fire, but US intelligence and Nato have confirmed there is evidence of North Korean troops being involved in Russia's war.
The arrival of North Korean troops was cited by US officials as a reason for President Biden giving the green light for Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike inside Russia.
How that decision will affect the war in the coming months is still to be seen, but Ukraine now has the potential to hit targets almost 200 miles (300km) from the Russia-Ukraine border.

Ukraine sends units into Russia​

The appearance of North Korean troops in the Kursk region was a response to a surprise attack launched across the border by Ukrainian troops in August, advancing up to 18 miles (30km) into the Russian region.
Almost 200,000 people were evacuated from areas along the border by the Russian government and President Vladimir Putin condemned the Ukrainian offensive as a "major provocation".
After two weeks, Ukraine's top commander claimed to control more than 1,200 sq km of Russian territory and 93 villages. The regions of Kursk and Belgorod have both declared a state of emergency.
Some of that territory has been regained by Russia but Ukraine still has troops in the Kursk region.

The counter-offensive is seen partly as an attempt to force Russia to redeploy units from the east and relieve pressure on the beleaguered Ukrainian defences there, and partly as a bid to improve Ukraine's chances of a peace settlement.

Russian incursion north of Kharkiv​

At the beginning of May 2024, Russian forces crossed the international border to the north of Ukraine's second-biggest city, Kharkiv. Several villages were seized and thousands of civilians fled.

Russia's main offensive has long focused on the eastern Donetsk region, but this was one of the most significant ground assaults since the start of the war and further stretched Ukraine's front-line defences.
The Russian push took place at the end of a four-month period when the US was not supplying weapons to Ukraine, due to a stalemate in the US Congress.
The issue was finally resolved at the end of April, when the US passed a $61bn aid package to provide missiles, artillery and air-defence systems to the Ukrainian military.
Ukrainian forces eventually held firm and even though the city of Kharkiv has come under repeated attack from glide bombs fired by Russian warplanes, it remains beyond the range of Russian artillery.

Russia grinds forward in the east​

The incursion north of Kharkiv was some distance from the main front line in the east where Russia has continued its offensive operations and been edging forwards since October 2023.
Eastern Ukraine has been contested territory since 2014, when Russian-backed fighters seized large swathes of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Russia's biggest advantage is manpower and it has shown a willingness to throw soldiers at Ukrainian positions to gain a few metres at a time.
According to the UK chief of defence staff Sir Tony Radakin, more than 1,500 Russian soldiers were being killed or wounded every day in October. That is the highest rate since the beginning of the war, exceeding the 1,200 being killed or wounded every day in May and June.
Experts at the Institute for the Study of War believe Russian forces will likely continue to focus on seizing frontline Ukrainian towns and cities this winter with the city of Pokrovsk as one of their main targets.

The Russian advance towards Pokrovsk is the most notable change in control of the front line near Donetsk for several months, but innovative tactics by Ukrainian forces, combining the use of drones and ground forces, appears to have held up a direct assault by the Russians and inflicted significant losses of troops and equipment.
The recent defence of Pokrovsk follows the Ukrainian withdrawal from Avdiivka, just north of Donetsk, back in February after months of fighting.
Almost all of Avdiivka's pre-war population of more than 30,000 people have left and the town itself is almost completely destroyed.
To the north, areas around Bakhmut have remained a flashpoint and have endured some of the heaviest fighting of the war.
Although Ukraine gained some ground around Chasiv Yar, which is situated on high ground some 10km west of Bakhmut, Russian forces have since made further advances in the area.

Two and a half years of fighting​

Russia's invasion began with dozens of missile strikes on cities all over Ukraine before dawn on 24 February 2022.
Russian ground troops moved in quickly and within a few weeks were in control of large areas of Ukraine and had advanced to the suburbs of Kyiv.
Russian forces were bombarding Kharkiv, and they had taken territory in the east and south as far as Kherson, and surrounded the port city of Mariupol.

But they hit very strong Ukrainian resistance almost everywhere and faced serious logistical problems with poorly motivated Russian troops suffering shortages of food, water and ammunition.
Ukrainian forces were also quick to deploy Western supplied arms such as the Nlaw anti-tank system, which proved highly effective against the Russian advance.
By October 2022, the picture had changed dramatically and having failed to take Kyiv, Russia withdrew completely from the north. The following month, Ukrainian forces recaptured the southern city of Kherson.
Since then, the battle has mostly been in the east of Ukraine with Russian forces slowly gaining ground over many months, with at least 70,000 Russian troops killed - and an estimated 500,000 being either killed or injured in total, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.