Open-source researchers at the investigative project Tochnyi, which says it "aims to accurately report" on the Russia-Ukraine war, said the potential spying facility is in the Kaliningrad region—the Russian semi-exclave sandwiched between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. They report it began taking shape in March 2023 and is almost finished.

For the first time since sending troops to fight in Ukraine, North Korea is publicly confirming combat deaths, an abrupt reversal after months of silence and denial. State media broadcast an emotional ceremony featuring Kim Jong Un,

Moscow is preparing to raise taxes and cut spending as it tries to maintain high defence expenditure with Russia's economy creaking under the weight of financing the more than three-year war in Ukraine,

Ukrainian drones have struck the Unecha oil pumping station in Russia's Bryansk region, according to reports. Meanwhile, Kim Jong Un has awarded North Korean troops who fought for Russia in the war against Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin is demanding that Ukraine give up all of the eastern Donbas region, renounce ambitions to join NATO, remain neutral and keep Western troops out of the country, three sources familiar with top-level Kremlin thinking told Reuters.

Russian companies are widening their campaign to find young African women to help fill a labor shortage, heightening concern many are being deployed in the Ukraine war effort. The latest drive is in South Africa,

Ukraine regains control of most of Tovste in Donetsk Oblast, military says * Massive Russian drone, missile attack kills 1, injures 26 in Ukrainian cities far from front line despite peace talks * Russian attack hits US electronics plant in western Ukraine * Russia opposes European troops in Ukraine under Trump-backed security guarantees,

Russia said Wednesday attempts to resolve security issues relating to Ukraine without Moscow's participation were a "road to nowhere," and that much diplomatic work needs to be done before Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are ever in the same room.