Ukrainian forces are defending their positions and hunting down sabotage groups in the northeastern city of Kupiansk despite Moscow's statements that its troops are fully in control of it, Ukraine's top commander said on Friday.

Ukrainian soldiers told Business Insider that the tactic extends the reach of Russia's deadly first-person-view (FPV) drones.

Russian attacks kill three in Kyiv as Ukrainian delegation races to U.S. for urgent peace negotiations. Ukrainian delegation is headed by national security chief Rustem Umerov. Russia reports a major oil terminal halted operations after a Ukrainian strike.

"None of us really know what Zelenskyy is like operating solo, because he never has," one expert told NBC News.

Russian authorities must increase the number of people who identify as Russian and speak Russian in the parts of Ukraine incorporated into the country since Moscow's 2022 invasion, according to a document signed by President Vladimir Putin.

KHERSON, Ukraine (AP) — When Olena Horlova leaves home or drives through town outside the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, she fears that she’s a target. She believes that Russian drones could be waiting on a rooftop, along the road or aiming for her car.

As Washington ramps up its negotiations with Ukraine and Russia and U.S. President Donald Trump expresses optimism that a peace deal could be close, there are still some very critical and contentious issues on which Kyiv and Moscow are in deep disagreement.

Russia will make no big concessions on a peace plan for Ukraine, a senior Russian diplomat said on Wednesday, after a leaked recording of a call involving U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff showed he had advised Moscow on how to pitch to Donald Trump.