While faster than before, Russia’s territorial gains remain minor, with only 5,000 square kilometres (1,930 square miles) of Ukraine taken since the start of last year, less than 1% of the country’s overall territory, according to a June report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un restated he “unconditionally” supports all Russian actions as it wages war in Ukraine, as he welcomed Moscow’s top diplomat to a newly built beach resort on his country’s east coast.

On the eastern front, Russian occupation forces are trying to push through to the area between the towns of Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka to gain operational space for further offensive actions. However,

Major General Mikhail Gudkov is one of the most senior Russian military officers to have been killed since Moscow launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.

A cyber attack on Russia's largest airline on Monday saw dozens of canceled flights after a pro-Ukraine team took responsibility for hacking airline computer systems.

Russia’s territorial gains remain minor, with only 5,000 sq km of Ukraine taken since the start of 2024. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.