Ukraine is facing a ‘hammer blow’ of 50,000 Russian troops in Kursk – can they hold out? - IN DEPTH: Experts tell Andy Gregory and Tom Watling that the real question is how much Kyiv’s troops are able

The U.S. says there will be a "firm response" as Ukrainian forces holding ground in Russia's Kursk region now face North Korean troops "engaging in combat."

Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with a sophisticated combination of missiles and drones for the first time in 73 days on Wednesday, authorities reported, as the Pentagon said most of the North Korean troops sent to help Moscow’s war effort are fighting to drive Ukraine’s army off Russian soil in the Kursk border region.

Russia struck Kyiv with a sophisticated missile and drone attack for the first time in 73 days on Wednesday morning and damage is still being assessed, a top official in the Ukrainian capital said. Air raid warnings blared for hours.

Kyiv responds to report it is ‘months away’ from developing nuclear weapons - Kyiv does not possess, develop or intend to acquire nuclear weapons, says official