Outnumbered Ukrainian troops are clinging to a section of Russian territory in hopes of using it as a bargaining chip in any future negotiations.

Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SOF) have reported the elimination of three more North Korean soldiers in Kursk Oblast and seized their documents, which display signs of forgery. The documents are likely being used by Russia to conceal the presence of North Korean military personnel.

Reclaiming Kursk is high on Moscow's agenda but comments by Valery Gerasimov failed to address the continuing presence of Ukrainian troops on Russian soil.

Moscow has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian forces battling to hold an enclave in Russia's Kursk region and increased pressure in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine's top army commander said on Tuesday.

Six people were killed and ten more were hospitalized in the Friday strike, Kursk acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein said.

Russia launched a massive missile and drone barrage targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, striking a thermal power plant and prompting Ukrainians to take shelter in metro stations on Christmas morning.

Ukraine's air force says it detected 184 missiles and drones, causing damage to energy infrastructure across the country.

Russia's losses in the war against Ukraine have already exceeded 779,000 soldiers. Over the last day, the Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated 1,600 Russian occupants, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Russia launches ‘massive’ missile attack on Christmas as Moscow cargo ship sinks - One person killed and 15 injured in ballistic missile attack in Kryvyi Rih

Fighters from the 8th Separate Special Operations Regiment have killed 77 North Korean soldiers in Russia's Kursk Oblast over the past three days. Source: Ukrainian Special Operations Forces on Telegram Quote: "Kursk Oblast.