Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said four people have died so far in overnight strikes by Russia, with Kyiv the primary target, and dozens more were wounded, including children and a pregnant woman.

Russia on Friday said its air defenses destroyed 216 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions and over the Black Sea, while Ukrainian officials reported multiple Russian strikes that killed and injured civilians in Kyiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Kirovohrad.

The South African government says it will investigate how 17 of its citizens were tricked into fighting as mercenaries in the Russia-Ukraine war after they asked for help to escape the conflict in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is testing the integrity of European NATO allies with airspace violations using drones and senses "weakness," including fear of escalation of the war.

South Africa’s government said on Thursday it will investigate how 17 of its citizens joined mercenary forces in the Russia-Ukraine conflict after the men sent distress calls for help to return home.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia has deployed about 170,000 troops in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, aiming to capture the city of Pokrovsk.

President Trump, on his way back to the White House on Sunday night, suggested that he's no longer actively trying to end the war between Russia and Ukraine: REPORTER: What would be the final straw for you that proves that Putin is really not ready to end this war with Ukraine?

Russia is ready to resume peace negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, Russian state news agency TASS cited a foreign ministry official as saying on Wednesday.