South Korea's spy agency said Friday it had confirmed that a North Korean soldier sent to back Russia's war against Ukraine had been captured by Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) destroyed a Russian aerial target with the Ukrainian-made Magura V5 naval strike drone for the first time, HUR reported on Dec. 31. During a battle in the Black Sea off the Western tip of occupied Crimea,

Russia has found that expendable convict soldiers can clear the way for regular troops, but these tactics come at a massive cost.

In his New Year's address, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a bold challenge to Ukraine and the West, declaring that Russia will not halt its military actions. He praised the Russian soldiers fighting on the frontlines,

President Vladimir Putin told Russians in a New Year address that the country would move forward with confidence in 2025, though he offered no specific promises on the economy or the war in Ukraine. At a time when many ordinary people are worried about rising prices and the central bank's 21% interest rate is squeezing businesses and homebuyers,

As of the evening of December 31, 188 combat engagements were reported on the frontlines. The fiercest clashes are occurring in the Pokrovsk direction, with significant enemy activity also noted in the Lyman,