Ukraine has advanced 5km (3 miles) deeper into Russian territory during the past week, as Russia again reportedly deployed North Korean forces against it. But as Kyiv’s forces advanced, United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a NATO meeting on Wednesday that it was “unrealistic” to expect a return to Ukraine’s pre-2014 borders as he ruled out NATO membership for the war-torn nation – a major blow to Ukraine’s post-war ambitions.

While the ongoing war started off with eastern Ukrainian territories at stake, the Russian region of Kursk, many believe, is most likely to face the major wrath of both sides

The Times interviewed Russian soldiers who said they face a brutal fight to dislodge determined Ukrainian forces from a sliver of Russian land. Trapped civilians fear catastrophe.