Where Putin’s forces are making gains in eastern Ukraine - Ukrainian forces fighting around Velyka Novosilka claim its Russian takeover will amount to nothing more than a flag-raising exercise

A ‘100-day plan' for ending the war between Ukraine and Russia has suggested the long-running conflict could be over in just a few months.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has refused to directly engage with his counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in any upcoming talks to end the war in Ukraine. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

In December, Ukrainian drones targeted oil depots and refineries in Smolensk, Oryol, Bryansk and Rostov — an area that had previously been targeted in July. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces claimed that the July attack on the Rostov refinery destroyed 1.5 million tons of oil and oil products worth $540 million (£433m).

The Ukraine conflict is the first major drone war in military history. Despite tactical losses on several parts along the line of contact, the Ukrainian military has continued to maintain strategic pressure on Russia by targeting and attacking major targets behind enemy lines.