The Russian government has been accused of using prison inmates to swell its ranks, with some reports suggesting that more than half of the troops who have been sent to Ukraine may be conscripts

One of Vladimir Putin's allies has made a boastful five-word prediction for the new year. The Deputy Chair of Russia's Security Council and former President, Dmitry Medvedev, posted a gif on X on December 31. It read: "Happy New Year, World! Happy New Year, beloved Russia !" He then named 2025 as the "Year of the Great Victory!"

The UK Defence Ministry, citing Ukrainian military estimates, said Russian losses reached a high of 2,200 troops killed or wounded on December 19.

Months after losing ground, Ukraine recently launched a counterattack in the Kursk region, combatting Russian forces.

EXCLUSIVE: Both Russia and Ukraine are trying to "maximise their position" prior to the return of Donald Trump to the White House, suggested Rand Europe's James Black.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 38,000 Russian troops had been killed or injured during the five-month war in the Kursk region, with 15,000 of them having died