Kyiv, on Tuesday (Mar 5) claimed that it used sea drones to down a Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship near the Kerch strait in occupied Crimea. Meanwhile, a military intelligence source in Kyiv told AFP that Ukraine also struck an oil depot in the Russian border region of Belgorod and set at least one fuel tank ablaze.

Ukraine claims to have sunk Russian warship near Crimea using sea drones

The Russian defence ministry early on Friday (August 4) said that overnight Ukrainian attacks on the naval base in the Crimean peninsula and the Black Sea were thwarted by their forces.

Russia claims it thwarted Ukrainian attacks on naval base in Black Sea, Crimean peninsula

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday warned the West against lifting sanctions on Russia as France pushes for rapprochement with Moscow. But speaking on the sidelines of an annual forum in the capital Kiev, the 41-year-old leader told AFP that he had a "feeling" that Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready to improve ties with Ukraine.

Russia sanctions must remain in place: Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky

Russian Defence Ministry on Thursday (April 11) published a video showing military drills in the annexed Crimean peninsula involving a battalion of S-400 missile defence systems.

Russia stages S-400 drills in annexed Crimea