A vocal supporter of Vladimir Putin has urged Russia to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in response to Donald Trump's announcement that he would provide Patriot missiles to Ukraine. On his radio program,

Putin ally warns Moscow will launch preventative strikes against the west ‘if necessary’ - Russian air defence units destroyed 122 Ukrainian drones overnight that targeted the capital Moscow, official

In St Petersburg, operations at Pulkovo Airport were temporarily suspended around 5am, delaying at least ten flights, according to Rosaviatsiya.

It is believed that Russia has been unable to secure more than one percent of additional territory from Ukraine since early 2024, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio citing that Russian forces have suffered the loss of over 100,000 troops in the first half of 2025 alone.

It comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose "severe tariffs" on Russia unless a peace deal was reached with Ukraine

A Russian official says American Daniel Martindale has been rewarded with citizenship for spying on Ukraine, "by decree of our President Vladimir Putin."

Explosions rocked Kyiv and multiple other regions in the early hours of July 16, with Ukraine's Air Force issuing repeated warnings of drone and missile strikes across the country, including western o