Russian air defences repelled a massive Ukrainian drone attack overnight, intercepting and destroying 121 drones targeting 13 regions, including Moscow, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Friday, making no mention of casualties or damage.

An official in Russia's Kursk border region partly occupied by Ukraine told AFP that authorities were working "constantly" to secure the return of Russian civilians caught behind the front lines -- after facing rare public criticism.

Russian units are advancing in all directions. The opponent is losing ground and retreating from previously held positions, despite additional reinforcements,' according to Defense Ministry - Anadolu

THE south’s military said that it suspects North Korea is preparing to send more troops to Russia to fight Ukrainian forces, even after suffering losses and seeing some of its soldiers captured.

Ukraine said on Friday it had struck a Russian oil refinery and a microchip factory in a huge drone attack that caused fires at the refinery's production facilities and an oil pumping station. Russia said hours earlier that its forces had repelled an overnight drone attack,

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces confirmed an attack overnight that hit Russia's Ryazan Oil Refinery and the Ryazan Thermal Power Plant, leaving them ablaze Thursday morning.

Ukraine drones hit an oil refinery east of Moscow in a mass attack on Russia, according to military sources. The oil plant in Ryazan, 120 miles south east of the capital, was targeted, as was a microelectronics production plant in Bryansk, western Russia, according to Ukraine’s military.

Nato has been increasing its forces along its eastern flank with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, deploying thousands of troops and equipment. This is to deter Moscow from expanding its war into the territory of any of the organization’s 32 member countries.

The scale of the attack represents a significant escalation in the conflict, showcasing Ukraine's increasing reliance on drones.

Ukraine also sends volley of drones into Russia, with air defences intercepting attacks on 13 regions, including Moscow.

Air defenses on duty have intercepted and destroyed 121 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian regions, the Russian Defense Ministry reported