Kurtiev stated that two Russian missiles targeted a residential building, causing windows and roofs in dozens of nearby homes to be destroyed.

Over 30,000 mercenaries fighting for the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group have been killed or injured since the Ukraine war began, according to the BBC, quoting United States officials.

Despite renewed calls from Ukrainian officials for air support, the United States (US) has ruled out sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine as it the country battles the Russian invasion that is almost a year now.

Following the Russian Government's vow that its forces would wipe out any Western tanks shipped to Ukraine, a Russian company has said it will offer five million roubles ($72,000 at the going rate of $1 - 69.57 roubles) in cash to the first soldiers who destroy or capture Western-made tanks in Ukraine.

No less than 12 senior Ukrainian officials have either resigned or been sacked, as President Volodymyr Zelensky kick-started a rejig of personnel across his administration in an apparent anti-corruption drive.

The number of journalists killed worldwide rose to 86 last year from 55 in 2021, representing a 36 per cent rise.